SEEING IN DARKNESS.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3378, 13 June 1927, Page 7

SEEING IN DARKNESS.

Mr J. L. Baird, the famous inventor of the “Televisor,” and the “Noctovisor,” describes in the following interview the nature of Noctovision and how it will benefit mankind in the future.

In the past few people, other than scientists, have ever dreamed that man would be able on© day to see in darkness, Realising that the ease with which a cat finds its way at night is due as much to the extreme sensitiveness of its whiskers as to the keenness of its sight, we have come to regard seeing in darkness as beyond the scope of physical ability. On this account, the news that it is now possible to see clearly in a darkened room was met with some scepticism by persons with whom the study of science is rather a pleasing relaxation than a serious occupation. There are color hands, both at the top and bottom of the spectrum which the human eye is not sufficiently sensitive to detect. Therefore, when these are met alone, the result is as though there were no light present at all. One of these invisible rays, situated near the bottom of the spectrum, is known as infra red. Now it is obvious that if a beam of these infra red rays is projected into- a darkened room, and a device contrived capable of detecting and converting into light to which the human eye responds, vision in darkness will have been achieved.

Working on these lines, which were first suggested by exposure in television, such a device was evolved after eight months of research. It consists of a light-sensitive electric cell constructed to reproduce the visula image, and throws a picture on a ground-glass screen in the top of its camera-like container. Now if an ordinary electric light bulb is covered with a thin coating of ebonite absolute darkness results. But this is only because the eye cannot detect the light rays which escape. Actually the room is flooded with infra- reel rays. Anyone who now takes his stand in this darkened room, holding the invisible ray detector, can watch the movements of a companion without his knowledge. In this form, however, Noctovision is of little practical use, but, adapted to the purposes of everyday existence, its applications are very wide. From the earliest times, night has Deen regarded by the military tactician as an invaluable cloak beneath which to conduct secret manoeuvres. Butthe invisible ray will reveal the movements and dispositions of troops on the darkest night to men equipped with, infra red searchlights. Flying above an army trying to retreat under cover of darkness, pilots will be able to turn the infra red rays from their ebonite-faced searchlights upon moving columns, and direct a devastating fire upon their ranks as accurately as in daylight. And this is bub one of many possible applications which occur immediately to the imagination. But Noctovision'will be as beneficentin peace as deadly in war. As a protection to shipping, for example, on foggy nights—for the infra red ray enables man to see in tog as well as in darkness —its possibilities are easily visualised. Although still in its early stages, seeing in darkness is an accomphshel fact and there is little doubt that it will lend itself to infinite adaptation for the benefit of mankind along channels of which no one has yet dreamed.