TRANSPARENT WALLS

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1925, Page 1

TRANSPARENT WALLS

SAN FRANCISCO, December 31. Thanks to Dr AV. D. Coolidge and his scientists at the General Electric Research Laboratories at Schenectady, New York, the advantage of being on the outside looking in are now greatly increased and the man with the inlook will have a much more certain outlook, for whereas “walls had oafs” they now have eyes as well, for the announcement has been made in Now York that the inventors have devised a portable X-ray machine which will pierce walls and floors, suitcases and trunks quite as readily as the X-rays of old penetrated the body and revealed a broken rib! But to what extent is human privacy invaded is the question which is being asked throughout America. This query lias flooded the laboratory mails since the device was announced. Experiments thus iar do not indicate that personal privacy will lie greatly endangered, for a time at least. It was stated that Mr N can go to the AVednesday night card club with reasonable assurance that Airs X is not on the outside tuning up the X-vny machine and looking in on him. Nor lias it been perfected to that stage where it will he of material advantage to seekers of divorce evidence. But it is mentioned that that day may come, for the instrument is still largely a laboratory experiment, and its potentialities can only be guessed at. However. it may be a life-saving aid to the overworked Prohibition officer. Ti links and suitcases can be penetrated by the rays, and such laws of search rights as' exist may have to lie changed to cover peep-rights as well. The little machine is so easily carried about that almost any Prohibition officer, leienue. agent or Customs official could carry it about with him. It weighs but 301 b occupies a space of 7 x 8 x lOin, and can he used for connecting it with any extension cord, lamp socket or base plug so common to modern domestic electricity in the average home. Among it's assured applications, the scientists explain, are these: Inspection of tinned goods after having been sealed by automatic canning machines. If internal defects exist they can he readily discovered by turning on the light. Examination of the interiors ol boxes, trunks and suitcases. Thus smuggling, “ booze ” running, and all that sort”of thing can he detected, while a. commercial value is attached to the penetration method. AY alls can he pierced for defects in plumbing or electric wiring, plastering or woodwork. and all internal ills of a house can ho quickly diagnosed and corrected without ripping out great sections ol the building. Jewellers can penetrate a gem and detect whether or not it is spurious. Laboratory equipment can be searched for physical properties which heretofore have defied discovery. This, generally, is just a beginning. “It is quite likely that other practical applications not at present known will develop as more extensive use is given,” said an officer from the laboratory. Meanwhile the card club scenes will have to be limited to cartoons, and bedroom scenes to farces and divorce courts.