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{{Short description|Fictional superpower}}
{{refimprove|date=September 2014}}
{{more citations needed|date=September 2014}}
In [[science fiction]] stories or [[Superhero comics]], '''X-ray vision''' is the ability to see through physical objects at the discretion of the holder of this superpower. The most famous possessor of this ability is [[DC Comics]]' iconic superhero character, [[Superman]].
In [[science fiction]] stories or [[superhero comics]], '''X-ray vision''' is the supernatural ability to see through normally opaque physical objects at the discretion of the holder of this superpower. The most famous possessor of this ability is [[DC Comics]]' iconic superhero character, [[Superman]].


==In fiction==
==In fiction==
Among the best known figures with "x-ray vision" are the fictional [[Superman]], and the protagonist of the 1963 film ''[[X (1963 film)|X]]''. The first person with X-ray vision in a comic book however was not Superman; but rather Olga Mesmer in 1938's Spicy Mysteries. She was one of the first female superheroes.<ref>{{cite book|title= Superheroes!:Capes cowls and the creation of comic book culture|author1=Glen Weldon|author2=Michael Kantor|page=87}}</ref>
Among the best known figures with "x-ray vision" are the fictional [[Superman]], and the protagonist of the 1963 film ''[[X (1963 film)|X]]''. The first person with X-ray vision in a comic book was [[Olga Mesmer]] in 1937's ''Spicy Mysteries''. She is often considered to be one of the first [[superhero]]es.<ref>{{cite book|title= Superheroes!:Capes cowls and the creation of comic book culture|author1=Glen Weldon|author2=Michael Kantor|page=87}}</ref> In myth, [[Lynceus (Argonaut)|Lynceus]] of the [[Argonauts]] possessed a similar ability.<ref>{{cite book|title= Stories of Innovation for the Millennial Generation: The Lynceus Long View|author1= Piero Formica|page=8|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=hWo-AAAAQBAJ&q=LYNCEUS+argonaut+x-ray&pg=PT26|isbn= 9781137347312|date= 2013-08-12|publisher= Springer}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title= Cambridge Orations 1982-1993: A Selection|author1= James Diggle|page=85|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7Fw4AAAAIAAJ&q=LYNCEUS+argonaut+x-ray&pg=PA85|isbn= 9780521466189|date= 1994-03-17|publisher= CUP Archive}}</ref>


Although called X-ray vision, this power has little to do with the actual effect of [[X-ray]]s. Instead, it is usually presented as the ability to selectively see through certain objects as though they are invisible or translucent in order to see objects or surfaces beyond or deep to the affected object or material. Thus, Superman can see through walls to see the bad guys beyond, or see through Lois Lane's dress to determine the color of her underwear (in ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman: The Movie]]'', [[Warner Brothers]], 1978). In such cases, the visions seen are generally in full color and three-dimensional. How such an effect might be created via x-rays is unexplained (the x-rays from the viewer's eyes would need to bounce back to his eyes the same way as normal light reflects off objects and into the viewer's eyes: x-rays simply pass through an object and continue on their way. X-ray films are made as x-rays pass through an object and then through the x-ray film. The images seen on x-ray film are "shadows" of the objects the x-rays passed through on their way to the film). As depicted, x-ray vision is actually more of a form of the supposed psychic ability of [[remote viewing]].
Although called X-ray vision, this power has little to do with the actual effect of [[X-ray]]s. Instead, it is usually presented as the ability to selectively see through certain objects as though they are invisible or transparent in order to see objects or surfaces beyond or deep inside the affected object or material. Thus, Superman can see through walls to see the criminals beyond, or see through Lois Lane's dress to determine the color of her underwear (in ''[[Superman (1978 film)|Superman: The Movie]]'', [[Warner Brothers]], 1978). In such cases, the visions seen are generally in full color and in three dimensions. How such an effect might be created via x-rays is unexplained (the x-rays from the viewer's eyes would need to bounce back to their eyes the same way normal light reflects off objects and into the viewer's eyes: x-rays simply pass through an object and continue on their way. [[X-ray film]]s are made as x-rays pass through an object and then through the x-ray film. The images seen on x-ray film are "shadows" of the objects the x-rays passed through on their way to the film). As depicted, x-ray vision is actually more of a form of the supposed psychic ability of [[remote viewing]].


==In reality==
==In reality==
[[X-rays]] have many practical uses for [[science|scientific]] and [[medicine|medical]] imaging. Security agencies are experimenting with applications of imaging devices which can "see" through clothing (using [[terahertz]] waves). Such devices are being deployed in some airports as a way of detecting contraband, such as guns, knives, and any other weapons in particular which may be carried beneath a person's clothing, bag, etc. The devices have created some degree of controversy from personal privacy advocates who worry about screeners being able to see people "naked." There also exist certain night-vision equipped video cameras that can be modified to see through clothing at a frequency just below visible light. Such imaging is not true x-ray vision, but rather shows variations in heat radiation rising from the skin beneath the clothing which can provide some detail of the body beneath.
[[X-rays]] have many practical uses for [[science|scientific]] and [[medicine|medical]] imaging. Security agencies are experimenting with applications of imaging devices which can "see" through clothing (using [[terahertz wave]]s). Such devices are being deployed in some airports as a way of detecting [[contraband]], such as guns, knives, and any other weapons in particular which may be carried beneath a person's clothing, bag, etc. The devices have created some degree of controversy from personal privacy advocates who worry about screeners being able to see people "naked." There also exist certain night-vision equipped cameras that can be modified to see through clothing at a frequency just below visible light. Such imaging is not true x-ray vision, but rather shows variations in heat radiation rising from the skin beneath the clothing which can provide some detail of the body beneath.


In comic books in the latter half of the 20th century, there often appeared an advertisement for "[[X-Ray Specs (novelty)|X-ray Specs]]" which displayed the face of a smiling boy wearing glasses with spirals on the lenses looking at his hand through which he could see the bones.
In comic books in the latter half of the 20th century, there often appeared an advertisement for "[[X-ray specs]]" which displayed the face of a smiling boy wearing glasses with spirals on the lenses looking at his hand through which he could see the bones.


While X-rays cannot be used in practice to enable seeing objects through walls, researchers have recently shown how everyday wireless signals, such as WiFi, can be used to achieve x-ray vision. Here is a chronological summary. In,<ref name=WiFir1>Y. Mostofi and P. Sen, [http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=5160306&queryText=Compressive+Cooperative+Mapping+in+Mobile+Networks&newsearch=true&searchField=Search_All “Compressive Cooperative Sensing and Mapping in Mobile Networks”] American Control Conference, pages 3397-3404, June 2009.</ref><ref name=WiFir2>Y. Mostofi, [http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=6138861&queryText=Cooperative+Wireless-Based+Obstacle%2FObject+Mapping+and+See-Through+Capabilities+in+Robotic+Networks&newsearch=true&searchField=Search_All “Cooperative Wireless-Based Obstacle/Object Mapping and See-Through Capabilities in Robotic Networks”] IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, DOI: 10.1109/TMC.2012.32, January 2012.</ref> details of an area were successfully imaged through walls with wifi signals. In <ref name=WiFir3>A. Banerjee, D. Maas, M. Bocca, N. Patwari, and S. K. Kasera, [http://arxiv.org/abs/1307.7233 “Through Wall People Localization Exploiting Radio Windows”] arXiv:1307.7233, submitted 27 July 2013.</ref>
While X-rays cannot be used in practice to enable seeing objects through walls, researchers have recently shown how everyday wireless signals, such as wi-fi, can be used to achieve x-ray vision.<ref name=WiFir1>Y. Mostofi and P. Sen, [https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=5160306&queryText=Compressive+Cooperative+Mapping+in+Mobile+Networks&newsearch=true&searchField=Search_All "Compressive Cooperative Sensing and Mapping in Mobile Networks"] American Control Conference, pages 3397-3404, June 2009.</ref><ref name=WiFir2>Y. Mostofi, [https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=6138861&queryText=Cooperative+Wireless-Based+Obstacle%2FObject+Mapping+and+See-Through+Capabilities+in+Robotic+Networks&newsearch=true&searchField=Search_All "Cooperative Wireless-Based Obstacle/Object Mapping and See-Through Capabilities in Robotic Networks"] IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, DOI: 10.1109/TMC.2012.32, January 2012.</ref><ref name=WiFir3>A. Banerjee, D. Maas, M. Bocca, N. Patwari, and S. K. Kasera, [https://arxiv.org/abs/1307.7233 "Through Wall People Localization Exploiting Radio Windows"] arXiv:1307.7233, submitted 27 July 2013.</ref><ref name=WiFir4>J. Wilson and N. Patwari [https://arxiv.org/abs/0909.5417 "Through-Wall Tracking Using Variance-Based Radio Tomography Networks"] Sep 2009</ref><ref name=WiFir5>Fadel Adib and Dina Katabi, [http://conferences.sigcomm.org/sigcomm/2013/papers/sigcomm/p75.pdf "See Through Walls with WiFi!"] ACM SIGCOMM, Hong Kong, August 2013.</ref><ref name=WiFir6>Qifan Pu, Sidhant Gupta, Shyamnath Gollakota and Shwetak Patel, [http://wisee.cs.washington.edu/ "Whole-Home Gesture Recognition Using Wireless Signals"] ACM MOBICOM, October 2013.</ref><ref name=WiFir7>Fadel Adib, ChenYu Hsu, Hongzi Mao, Dina Katabi and Fredo Durand, [http://rfcapture.csail.mit.edu/ "Capturing the Human Figure Through a Wall"] ACM SIGGRAPH Asia, November 2015.</ref><ref name=WiFir8>Donny Huang, Rajalakshmi Nandakumar, and Shyamnath Gollakota, [http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2668344 "Feasibility and Limits of Wi-Fi Imaging"] ACM SenSys, November 2014.</ref>
<ref name=WiFir4>J. Wilson and N. Patwari [http://arxiv.org/abs/0909.5417 “Through-Wall Tracking Using Variance-Based Radio Tomography Networks”] Sep 2009</ref> tracking of a human through walls was performed. Later work on tracking with wireless signals include.<ref name=WiFir5>Fadel Adib and Dina Katabi, [http://conferences.sigcomm.org/sigcomm/2013/papers/sigcomm/p75.pdf "See Through Walls with WiFi!"] ACM SIGCOMM, Hong Kong, August 2013.</ref> In,<ref name=WiFir6>Qifan Pu, Sidhant Gupta, Shyamnath Gollakota and Shwetak Patel, [http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=2500436 "Whole-Home Gesture Recognition Using Wireless Signals"] ACM MOBICOM, October 2013.</ref> gesture recognition with wireless signals is tested through walls.


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Quantum cryptography]]
* [[Wall hack]]


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:X-Ray Vision}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:X-Ray Vision}}
[[Category:Fictional superhuman features or abilities]]
[[Category:Fictional superhuman abilities]]
[[Category:Science fiction themes]]
[[Category:Fiction about X-ray vision]]

Latest revision as of 05:24, 31 July 2024

In science fiction stories or superhero comics, X-ray vision is the supernatural ability to see through normally opaque physical objects at the discretion of the holder of this superpower. The most famous possessor of this ability is DC Comics' iconic superhero character, Superman.

In fiction

[edit]

Among the best known figures with "x-ray vision" are the fictional Superman, and the protagonist of the 1963 film X. The first person with X-ray vision in a comic book was Olga Mesmer in 1937's Spicy Mysteries. She is often considered to be one of the first superheroes.[1] In myth, Lynceus of the Argonauts possessed a similar ability.[2][3]

Although called X-ray vision, this power has little to do with the actual effect of X-rays. Instead, it is usually presented as the ability to selectively see through certain objects as though they are invisible or transparent in order to see objects or surfaces beyond or deep inside the affected object or material. Thus, Superman can see through walls to see the criminals beyond, or see through Lois Lane's dress to determine the color of her underwear (in Superman: The Movie, Warner Brothers, 1978). In such cases, the visions seen are generally in full color and in three dimensions. How such an effect might be created via x-rays is unexplained (the x-rays from the viewer's eyes would need to bounce back to their eyes the same way normal light reflects off objects and into the viewer's eyes: x-rays simply pass through an object and continue on their way. X-ray films are made as x-rays pass through an object and then through the x-ray film. The images seen on x-ray film are "shadows" of the objects the x-rays passed through on their way to the film). As depicted, x-ray vision is actually more of a form of the supposed psychic ability of remote viewing.

In reality

[edit]

X-rays have many practical uses for scientific and medical imaging. Security agencies are experimenting with applications of imaging devices which can "see" through clothing (using terahertz waves). Such devices are being deployed in some airports as a way of detecting contraband, such as guns, knives, and any other weapons in particular which may be carried beneath a person's clothing, bag, etc. The devices have created some degree of controversy from personal privacy advocates who worry about screeners being able to see people "naked." There also exist certain night-vision equipped cameras that can be modified to see through clothing at a frequency just below visible light. Such imaging is not true x-ray vision, but rather shows variations in heat radiation rising from the skin beneath the clothing which can provide some detail of the body beneath.

In comic books in the latter half of the 20th century, there often appeared an advertisement for "X-ray specs" which displayed the face of a smiling boy wearing glasses with spirals on the lenses looking at his hand through which he could see the bones.

While X-rays cannot be used in practice to enable seeing objects through walls, researchers have recently shown how everyday wireless signals, such as wi-fi, can be used to achieve x-ray vision.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Glen Weldon; Michael Kantor. Superheroes!:Capes cowls and the creation of comic book culture. p. 87.
  2. ^ Piero Formica (2013-08-12). Stories of Innovation for the Millennial Generation: The Lynceus Long View. Springer. p. 8. ISBN 9781137347312.
  3. ^ James Diggle (1994-03-17). Cambridge Orations 1982-1993: A Selection. CUP Archive. p. 85. ISBN 9780521466189.
  4. ^ Y. Mostofi and P. Sen, "Compressive Cooperative Sensing and Mapping in Mobile Networks" American Control Conference, pages 3397-3404, June 2009.
  5. ^ Y. Mostofi, "Cooperative Wireless-Based Obstacle/Object Mapping and See-Through Capabilities in Robotic Networks" IEEE Transactions on Mobile Computing, DOI: 10.1109/TMC.2012.32, January 2012.
  6. ^ A. Banerjee, D. Maas, M. Bocca, N. Patwari, and S. K. Kasera, "Through Wall People Localization Exploiting Radio Windows" arXiv:1307.7233, submitted 27 July 2013.
  7. ^ J. Wilson and N. Patwari "Through-Wall Tracking Using Variance-Based Radio Tomography Networks" Sep 2009
  8. ^ Fadel Adib and Dina Katabi, "See Through Walls with WiFi!" ACM SIGCOMM, Hong Kong, August 2013.
  9. ^ Qifan Pu, Sidhant Gupta, Shyamnath Gollakota and Shwetak Patel, "Whole-Home Gesture Recognition Using Wireless Signals" ACM MOBICOM, October 2013.
  10. ^ Fadel Adib, ChenYu Hsu, Hongzi Mao, Dina Katabi and Fredo Durand, "Capturing the Human Figure Through a Wall" ACM SIGGRAPH Asia, November 2015.
  11. ^ Donny Huang, Rajalakshmi Nandakumar, and Shyamnath Gollakota, "Feasibility and Limits of Wi-Fi Imaging" ACM SenSys, November 2014.
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