This is not the act of a magician.
British startup Invisibility Shield Co. says it has developed a 6-foot-tall “megashield” and is selling it for $828. The company says it can make multiple people invisible, just like something out of the Harry Potter movies.
The shields use a super-large, precision-engineered lens array that forms the face of each shield and redirects the light that is reflected back to the person standing behind the shield away from the viewer.
Invisibility Shield Co. / SWNS
The shape and placement of these lenses spreads background light from both sides of the shield onto the face of the device and is directed instead toward the observer, effectively obscuring anything behind it.
However, this technology does not completely blend into its surroundings, creating a blurry block.
The company says each unit is completely waterproof, requires no electricity, and is made from 100% recyclable materials.
“The possibilities are endless, but most importantly, this shield is a lot of fun. It’s fun to play with, and I’m excited to build it,” Invisibility Shield designer Tristan Thompson told South West News Service.
Invisibility Shield Co. first released its product in 2022, advertising a full-sized 3-foot-tall shield for $354 and a smaller, 8-inch-tall version for $54.
The team has started crowdfunding on kickstarter Hoping to “make science fiction come true” in 2022, it quickly surpassed its $6,600 goal with plans to ship to customers by the end of the year.
On Tuesday, four years after their initial launch, they updated their Kickstarter funders and announced an updated product.
The latest version of the transparent shield can hide multiple people, stand on its own, and pack up to 2.3 inches thick, making it “easy to transport wherever you want to disappear,” the company claimed.
“We wanted to see how far we could push this technology. A clear shield that you could really roll up and throw over your shoulder? Two years ago, no one thought we could do that,” Thompson says. he said.
