Conventional nightvision relies on an image intensifier to convert weak light from the visible and near-infrared spectrum into visible light which can then be seen by the human eye. But nightvision can only work with what it’s got, so when nightvision confronts a scene which is completely dark, it has no light to enhance, and thus becomes useless.

But a new combination of technologies allows a handheld device to perceive great detail in total darkness without emitting a visible beam of any kind. The nine-pound Tiger Vision unit built by MobileLED uses an array of powerful infrared LEDs to shine an invisible beam before it, and has a special digital camera which converts the infrared light into the visible spectrum. It then displays the scene on a built-in four-inch LCD monitor, or on a remote eyepiece which can receive the camera’s signal from up to a hundred yards away. It’s basically a flashlight whose beam is visible only to the light’s operator.

I describe a technology very similar to this in my as-yet-unfinished novel… but the guys at MobileLED actually built the thing, so they are fair bit cleverer than I.

Further reading:
Product details page from tiger-vision.com
MSNBC Article on TigerVision

Links:

Written by Alan Bellows, posted on 27 December 2005. Alan is the founder, developer, designer, and managing editor of Damn Interesting, and he likes the Oxford comma.