X-ray Vision Technology: Read A Book Without Opening It

Researchers from Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found a way how to read a book without actually opening it.  The researchers have developed a prototype that uses terahertz radiation to be able to see or "read" the first nine pages of a book. It is a technology that is similar with x-ray.

According to Fox News, the terahertz radiation bounces into the book. Each page can be spotted by the airgap that exists in between the pages. The system will then use a special set of the algorithm that can help recognize what was written on the pages of the book.

One of the researchers in MIT, Barmak Heshmat, explained that this system was inspired by one of their work where they were able to see the content of a sealed envelope using terahertz radiation.  Heshmat added. "I was really curious. I wanted to know how deep you can actually read through a closed book because nobody tried that."

The researchers tried using the prototype to scan a stack of 300-micron thick sheets of paper. Each paper has a single letter written on it. The system correctly read the letter, CBS reported.

Heshmat added that the system they've used as a prototype is not necessary top-of-the-line. He added that the system can still be improved in the future. Heshmat said, "If the system was improved further, we'd have a chance of reading even deeper."

This system can be very beneficial to researchers from different fields, especially those who are handling fragile documents such as ancient books and text.  Heshmat said that The Metropolitan Museum in New York is showing great interest in this new technology.  He added that it is possible that they want to use it for antique books that are too fragile to open.

Another use for this technology is for spies who can see through envelopes without opening it, lessening the danger to themselves.