X-Ray Specs (novelty)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

X-Ray Specs are an American novelty item, purported to allow the user to see through or into solid objects. Instead, though, the glasses merely create an optical illusion; no X-rays are involved. The current version is sold under the name X-Ray Spex; an essentially identical product is sold under the name X-Ray Gogs.

1 Description
2 Novelty value
3 History
4 Actual see-through devices
5 See also
6 Notes
7 External links

[edit] Description

X-Ray Specs consist of an outsized pair of eyeglasses with plastic frames and white cardboard "lenses" printed with concentric red circles, and emblazoned with the legend "X-RAY VISION". They are not designed to be inconspicuous. "Specs", a truncation of the word "spectacles", is a somewhat archaic term for eyeglasses.

Viewing the "bones" of a hand through X-Ray Specs

The lenses consist of two layers of cardboard with a small hole about 6mm (.25 inch) in diameter punched through both layers. The user views objects through the holes. A feather is embedded between the layers of each lens. The vanes of the feathers are so close together that light is diffracted, causing the user to receive two slightly offset images. For instance, if viewing a pencil, one would see two offset images of the pencil. Where the images overlap, a darker image is obtained, supposedly giving the illusion that one is seeing the graphite embedded within the body of the pencil. As may be imagined, the illusion is not particularly sustainable.

[edit] Novelty value

X-Ray Specs were long advertised with the slogan "See the bones in your hand, see through clothes!"

The claim is patently absurd, of course; besides the unlikelihood of a safe and functional x-ray device selling for about US$1, x-ray detectors require an x-ray source.

Nevertheless, enough customers — intrigued by the salacious possibilities suggested by the slogan "...see through clothes!"^[1] — have gambled a dollar or two on the off-chance that Superman's similarly sourceless x-ray vision might somehow be obtained through use of the device.^[2]

Part or even most of the novelty value lies in provoking the object of the wearer's attentions. These subjects, if unable to be entirely sure that the device did not indeed allow the wearer to compromise their modesty, were liable to respond with a variety of amusing reactions.

[edit] History

X-Ray Specs were invented by Harold von Braunhut, also the inventor of Amazing Sea-Monkeys.

A previous product called the Wonder Tube worked in a similar way. Instead of glasses, the device was in the form of a small telescope.

[edit] Actual see-through devices

Thermal imaging goggles are used by various military and police organizations. They are intended for night use, but the longer wavelength of infrared light allows the user to see images through some materials that are impervious to visible light.

The Advanced Intelligence Company, Ltd. manufactures a device called X-Reflect Glasses which is claimed to allow the user to partly see through certain types of clothing. These goggles are a variation of thermal imaging goggles, but are intended specifically for daylight voyeurism. The device retails for US$2400 as of 2005.

Devices currently in development for airport security are able to see through clothing quite well. These are true X-ray devices, using backscatter X-rays. The devices are not portable and use a typical X-ray display screen, not goggles.

Terahertz imaging uses electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz or far infrared range to see through objects in a similar manner to X-rays. It is currently a very expensive new technology, and is being tested for use in customs inspection, firefighting, search and rescue and medical imaging.