Ok, this completely blew my mind this morning. Andrew Hicks, Professor of Mathematics at Drexel University in Philadelphia, has invented a new kind of mirror. Now that really doesn’t sound like a big task, until you see his mirror that DOESN’T reflect a mirror image.

Non-reversing mirror

This mirror does not produce a “mirror” image, making it possible to read reflected text normally.

Hicks, a mathematician at Drexel University, Philadelphia, used computer algorithms to generate the mirror’s bizarre surface, which curves and bends in different directions. The curves direct rays from an object across the mirror’s face before sending them back to the viewer, flipping the conventional mirror image.

As well as neat tricks like this, Hicks’ models make it possible to design mirrors that provide wide angled-views or eliminate distortion.

How crazy is that?! It’s hard to even imagine how big of an impact such a relatively simple concept could have on our daily lives. Let alone the VFX industry.

For example, one thing that we use and make every day at Speedshape are panoramic images used for image mapping, HDR lighting, photogrammetry, and other environment creation techniques. This is done by using a pan head that pivots around the focal center of your camera, and then taking a series of photographs that we later assemble onto panels and clean up using specialized software like Adobe’s Photoshop or Autodesk’s Stitcher.

But if Andrew Hicks has his way, we’ll be using his new Parabolic mirror that reflects a full 360° panoramic along the horizon view without any distortion. Check it out…

Parabolic mirror

Any shiny convex surface, like a Christmas tree bauble, can reflect a wide panoramic image. But objects are distorted so that they change size as they move across the reflection, even if their distance from the reflecting surface is constant.

This panoramic mirror reflects a full 360° along the horizon view without any distortion. As long as an object is at the same distance from the mirror, it appears the same size wherever it is reflected.

And that’s just plain freaking cool if you ask me.

LINK: Reflecting on a new generation of mirrors

Mathematician Andrew Hicks designs unusual mirrors that reflect wide panoramas or even show text the right way round