https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a19091534/inogon-leading-mark-moire-effect-light/

SearchSearchClose
---------------------------------------------------------------------

  * Follow
  * Subscribe
  * My Bookmarks
  * Get Our Newsletter
  * Pop Mech Pro
  * Shop
  * Home and DIY
  * Power Tools
  * Cars, Trucks, & Motorcycles
  * Technology
  * Military
  * Gear & Gadget Reviews
  * Science
  * Adventure
  * Sci-Fi
  * Airplanes
  * Space
  * Gifts
  * Sales & Deals
  * Visual Stories
  * Promotions

Opt-Out IconYour Privacy Choices
Privacy NoticeTerms Of Use
Skip to Content
Logo

  * Home
  * Latest Stories
  * Science
  * Military
  * Pop Mech Pro

Subscribe
sign in
Search
Search[                    ]
Best Kitchen Trash CanLowe's Labor Day SaleBest Leaf BlowerElectric
Pressure WashersLabor Day TV Sales

 1. New Technology
 2. Infrastructure & Transportation
 3. How This Clever Naval Light Always Points the Way You Need to Go

How This Clever Naval Light Always Points the Way You Need to Go

A brilliant optical trick makes this sign read correctly from any
possible angle.


Headshot of Eric LimerBy Eric LimerPublished: Mar 05, 2018 1:08 PM
EST
bookmarksSave Article
Architecture, Building, Reinforced concrete, Skyscraper, Tower block,
Facade, Tower, Brutalist architecture, Corporate headquarters,
Composite material, pinterest
Tom Scott//YouTube

Imagine you're in charge of guiding ships into a harbor and you want
to use a sign to direct them all to one specific point, perhaps a
dock or a channel. How might you make a single signal light that
always points to the right direction depending on the angle you look
at it, to the right if you're too far left, and to the left if you're
too far right?

Here in 2018, your mind might go to location tracking or some other
high tech solution, but in 1982, some clever engineers had already
figured out an answer with no electronics required. Well, other than
a light. Tom Scott explains:

youtubeView full post on Youtube

The Inogon Leading Mark makes use of what's called the moire effect,
that strange type of distortion you see when looking at a series of
overlapping, not-quite-parallel lines. You may be familiar with it as
a form of digital image artifacting, a strange jaggy cloudiness that
can appear in certain images or video, like a clip of a striped shirt
.

If you use this phenomenon cleverly, however, you can create an image
that can change depending on the angle its viewed from. In the case
of the Inogon light, it will always display an arrow or series of
arrows (sometimes strange, distorted ones) pointed in the direction
you want them to go. It's like an optical illusion that's good for
more than just blowing your mind.

Source: Tom Scott

Watch Next

 

Play Iconpreview for Popular Mechanics All Sections
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below

Infrastructure & Transportation

 
cyberspace woman standing near city skyline

'Woven City' Is Ready For Its First Residents

 
aerial photograph, emeryville crescent i 80 i 880 i 580 freeway
interchange alameda california

Rebuilding the Maze

 
touching the future

Curving Light Could Make the 6G Dream a Reality

 
baltimore's francis scott key bridge collapses after being struck by
cargo ship

Ship Crew in Baltimore Collision Are Still Aboard

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
 
train car pile up

Inside the Final Minutes of a Horrible Train Wreck

 
baltimore's francis scott key bridge collapses after being struck by
cargo ship

What to Learn From the Baltimore Bridge Collapse

 
illegal tunnel discovered under historic brooklyn synagogue raises
safety concerns

Secret Tunnel in NYC Destabilizes Nearby Property

 
view on the medieval construction of guedelon in bourgogne in france

The Secrets of a 26-Year-Old Medieval Castle

 
lightning monsoons into the ocean seas with harsh weather conditions

How Laser Lightning Rods Could Save Our Buildings

 
a photo from the book made in america the industrial photography of
chrisopher payne

Christopher Payne's Industrial Photography

 
the sphere in las vegas

What It Took to Build the World's Largest Sphere

 
modern bridge

Greek Mythology Impacts Longest Suspension Bridge

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Logo
x
tiktok
youtube
facebook
instagram
pinterest
NewsletterAbout UsMedia KitWriter GuidelinesPress RoomContact Us
Community GuidelinesAdvertise OnlineCustomer ServiceSubscribeOther
Hearst SubscriptionsGive a GiftHearst Men's and Enthusiast Media
Group - A Part of Hearst Digital Media

A Part of Hearst Digital Media

We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend
products we back.

(c)2024 Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Privacy NoticeCA Notice at CollectionYour CA Privacy Rights/Shine the
LightDAA Industry Opt OutTerms of UseSite Map
Opt-Out IconYour Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads