I New Idea Homepage

Traditional methods to make real-world objects invisible are usually based on materials that route incoming light around the hidden object, but researchers from the University of Texas at Austin have employed plasmonic materials that can affect the electric and magnetic fields the incoming light used to offer us a new way to make objects invisible. These new materials present a “photo negative” of the hidden object, which can cancel the disruption the object causes to the electric and magnetic fields.  That means, if you apply the material onto any object, the object would then become completely invisible from all angles- even the radars cannot detect it anymore.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Still worrying about the problem that your expensive cellphones may get destroyed when water goes into it? Stop it then, as a company named Liquipel will render our electronic devices completely waterproof with a hydrophobic nano-coating they’ve developed. The coating, actually not visible to human eyes, can protect the entire device as a whole, with all vital components inside and out completely coated to fight against accidental contact with liquids. Though the new technology would allow us to use cellphones and other devices in bathrooms or swimming pools, it may fail to protect your devices in deep sea, however. Thus while giving your devices a protection with this hydrophobic nano-coating, you’ll still need to pay high attention when using them in water.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Can Ferris wheel become invisible, lifting people up and down while never showing its original structure? Said “yes”, Spanish-based artist Maider López showed us an amazing video in which the Ferris wheel is really invisible… But how? [Read the rest of this entry...]

Although bridges are usually designed to keep us away from water, I really appreciate the Moses Bridge that sits below the water line to offer us an amazing experience of passing through parted water. Made from sustainable Accoya wood coated with a nontoxic waterproof material, the bridge can last quite a longer time than we can imagine and thus to lead many more people to go through the parted water. S how do you like it? At least it seems a miracle from the pictures, since the bridge visually disappears in the water.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Light appearing on your cellphone screen or laptop screen annoys you from time to time? Get rid of it then, with Nippon Electric Glass Co Ltd’s “Invisible Glass”. Exhibited it at FPD International 2011, the new glass can reduce the reflection of light by forming an anti-reflection film on both the front and back sides of the glass substrate. As a result, only about 0.1% of the light is reflected on it, which means you can see almost no light on the glass substrate. Moreover, the glass is even invisible if you don’t see carefully. Wow, watch out on your way if these glass is applied everywhere one day.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Transparency is obviously a main trend of modern designs and we’ve come up with transparent cellphones, transparent shoes and transparent sculptures in the past few months. And soon we’ll see a transparent television. [Read the rest of this entry...]

“What you want to sit on is nothing–like you’re supported by air”, sticking to that concept, Ben Alun-jones comes up with the Affinity Chair that features invisibility. The chair is not really invisible, but reflects its surroundings with the help of plastic acrylic sheets in conjunction with one-way mirror film. It is also built with ultrasonic sensors activate pulsing LEDs, which acts faster as the visitors come nearer while stops glowing when someone sits onto it. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Free your hands! The Mouseless, completely invisible, is an innovative mouse that allows you to interact with the computers as the physical mouse do, while not needing to grapping it (of course you cannot!) It consists of an Infrared (IR) laser beam (with line cap) and an Infrared camera, both of which are built inside the computer. So when the user cups his/her hand on the surface where the computer sits on, a laser beam then appear underneath the hand, allowing him/her to interact with the computers. Really magical, right? For more details, check out the video below. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Some of us just adore the odd stuff. Please correct me if you think I’m wrong! Just look at the mirrored shoes, they’re obviously another products meant for the most weird of your grocery lists. But do look carefully, it is the mirrors that turn your feet invisible, not that the shoes are made transparent. [Read the rest of this entry...]

No, not that invisible. But you really cannot recoganize the existing of these lights. They are shaped like normal leaves and powered by solar, accordingly in the daytime, when the light is turned down, you will not realize these them. [Read the rest of this entry...]

If you’re bored of conventional shower, you gonna like this fashionable innovation. Be hidden in the wall while not using, this shower is invisible. Just push the handle underneath, the panel gonna be transformed into a stylish shower. [Read the rest of this entry...]

At first glance, it’s just a bracelet. But, if you look a little bit carefully, you gonna find watch’s hands. It’s a cool watch. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Every functional union of this concept kitchen is hidden behind the kitchen wall while not being used. It’s cool. But no word yet on if this concept will go into production. So, just waiting! [Read the rest of this entry...]

Coming in the shape of a large bullet, while you want a fire, all you need to do is overturn the Lucifer and gently shake it so that the end part of the matches will make its way out partially from the hole on top just like how traditional toothpick holders work.

When you pull the entire match out, its head will go through the gratter, hence causing the match to light up automatically. It’s cool to use this kind of matches! [Read the rest of this entry...]

Engineers at Perdue University have an invisibility device in the works.

Still just a concept at this point, the plan would be to surround an object with a specially designed cone with metal needles sticking out of it. The needles would change the refractive properties of the cone in such a way that light would bend around it and make any stuff inside disappear.

Their earlier research will be published on Nature Photonics in April.

It’s magic! I gotta have a coat like this if it comes true. [Read the rest of this entry...]