THEY LIVE!

41m.jpgOne of my favorite Sci-Fi movies of all time is THEY LIVE, directed by John Carpenter. It stared wrestler Rowdy Roddy Piper, a construction worker who finds a pair of glasses that reveals messages on signs along with creepy aliens walking among us bent on taking over. Looks like a company called SeeFree is making a pair of glasses that will "block" ads using USB based glasses. I emailed them to find out more (and to see if they're for real, seems unlikely). If they are, I totally will insert those creepy THEY LIVE messages over all the blocked ads.

Recent Entries

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: blatherskyte on March 9, 2005 at 3:37 PM

If they're not real, you could always induce the best line of the film.."I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass. And, I'm all outta bubblegum".


Posted by: philliptorrone on March 9, 2005 at 5:03 PM

that's awesome. thanks for reminding me about that, i'm going to use that the next time the situation presents itself!

cheers,
pt


Posted by: NessieVL on March 10, 2005 at 3:03 PM

There was a guy at MIT who made his own glasses that did this. He'd replace the billboards with pictures of trees and flowers.


Posted by: NessieVL on March 10, 2005 at 3:07 PM

I think this is the guy


Posted by: ladyada on March 10, 2005 at 8:05 PM

SeeFree is (clear to me, at least) total BS. Its probably an art project or similar. The closest existing thing would be the eyetap system (mann's research platform)

the movie was, however, inspiration for the privacy enhanced glasses which do work (although only in constrained situations) :)

(obligatory showoff: I did sucessfully build completely-containted (no computer necessary) glasses that can detect and block out televisions as part of my thesis which had similar but more 'realistic' objectives)


Posted by: wbeaty on March 24, 2005 at 12:31 PM

Make a set of these "They Live" goggles. They actually do work, although to human eyes the "special" billboards and t-shirts appear totally black. And a bright sunny day is required. They're based on the dark blue dyes which are nearly transparent in the near-IR. A couple of layers of Congo Blue and Primary Red will appear black to your eyes, but they have an IR passband. Refit your eyes for IR vision? Or just make some black signboards which contain rude messages that only an IR camera will notice.


Leave a comment


Subscribe to MAKE!Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now


Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!


CRAFT Maker Shed Maker Faire MAKE television
Holiday Gift Guides from MAKE
Gifts for Dads
Science and Chemistry
Gifts Under $20
More guides: Santa Claus Machines, Geek Toys for Grown Up Girls & Boys


Check out all of the episodes of Make: television

Alex Rider Dream Gadget Contest
Make: Science Room

Connect with MAKE

Be a MAKE fan on Facebook MAKE on Facebook
Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
MAKE on Twitter MAKE on Twitter
Follow our MAKE tweets!
MAKE Flickr Pool MAKE on Flickr
Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!
    make_tips on Twitter




    Maker SHED

    Advertise here with FM.

    Why advertise on MAKE?
    Read what folks are saying about us!

    Click here to advertise on MAKE!



    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Make: Online authors!

    Gareth BranwynGareth Branwyn
    Senior Editor


    Phillip TorronePhillip Torrone
    Senior Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Becky SternBecky Stern
    Associate Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Marc de VinckMarc de Vinck
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John ParkJohn Park
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Sean RaganSean Ragan
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Matt MetsMatt Mets
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    Dale DoughertyDale Dougherty
    Editor & Publisher
    | Twitter


    Shawn ConnallyShawn Connally
    Managing Editor
    | Twitter


    Goli MohammadiGoli Mohammadi
    Associate Managing Editor

    Kip KayKip Kay
    Weekend Projects
    | AIM | Twitter


    Collin CunninghamCollin Cunningham
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter

    Adam FlahertyAdam Flaherty
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter



    More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)

    Suggest a Site!

    Current Podcast

    itunesdl.gif Weekend Project: Beetlebot Simple robot from your parts bin that avoids obstacles. Thanks go to Jerome Demers for the original article in MAKE, Volume 12. To download the Beetlebot video, click here or subscribe in iTunes. Check out the complete Beetlebot article... More...

    Get the Make: Online sent via email
    Enter your email to receive Make: Online each day:



    MAKE Fascination video series brought to you by Dow

    Make: Education
    MAKE: en EspaƱol MAKE: Japan
    Important please read


    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Recent Posts from the Craft: Blog