WASHINGTON – Superman could look through walls. Those X-ray glasses advertised in comic books promised you could see through clothes.
And now, researchers say smartphones could be next.
Researchers at University of Texas at Dallas say an inexpensive microchip is allowing them access to the “terahertz” band of the electromagnetic spectrum, according to Yahoo News.
Using Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor technology commonly found in processors for personal computers, smartphones and televisions, “you could put this chip and a transmitter on the back of a cell phone, turning it into a device carried in your pocket that can see through objects,” according to the report.
To calm privacy fears, the professor heading the study says research is limited to what can be visible at distances of 4 inches or less.
Researchers say the technology could allow doctors to look into patients’ bodies or help a homeowner find a wall stud while hanging a picture.
WTOP’s Neal Augenstein contributed to this report. Follow Neal Augenstein and WTOP on Twitter.
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