The need for security is constantly increasing. And it goes hand in hand, it must be said, with the sensation of being increasingly observed: which is not a sensation. Surveillance systems are virtually ubiquitous. If you are a principled person, you just consider it a matter of privacy and you don't intend to commit any atrocity, perhaps there is a sweatshirt that's right for you.
Big brother-proof anonymity
If the idea of constantly being under the gun of the facial recognition bothers you, try an “antagonist” sweatshirt made by the artist Mac Pierce. Her name is “The Camera-Shy Hoodie”, literally “The sweatshirt that is ashamed to show itself to the cameras”.
It features a ring of super-bright infrared LEDs controlled by a processor (the RP2040 mounted on several Raspberry Pi systems). Here is a close-up detail of them.
What do these lights do? Easy. They turn on and off in three different patterns to confuse the auto exposure mechanics in almost any surveillance camera. Since it is infrared, a human does not notice great differences, however.
Simply put: this hoodie makes it nearly impossible to distinguish the wearer's facial features, especially when the camera is in night vision mode.
A hoodie for warriors of the night?
No. As you can imagine, this sweatshirt certainly doesn't help to avoid detection: a globe of light lights up around your head which in comparison Daft Punk were two beggars with no tomorrow.
As always, I'll show you the video first.
However, and this is certain, a camera will not be able to look you in the face and check if you are the one who always throws rubbish out of hours (it is the maximum crime I will allow you, even without instigating you to do so).
In summary, the infrared hoodie is an attractive solution for those looking to protect their privacy. And of course for Alan Moore fans.
