In Daniel H. Wilson's book Where's my Jetpack: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future that Never Was, he claims that according to 20th century science fiction we should have all of the technologies that were promised to be invented by now.

            Invisible camouflageis yet another invention only reachable in the inagination of science fiction and fantasy writers. For example, in a very popular young adult series, Harry Potter inherits an invisibility cloke from him father and when put on, Harry disappears completely. Invisible Camouflage is an extremely awesome concept used in many science fiction and fantasy works and could be used to any persons advantage. The Military could use invisibility in hostage situations, or covert operations along with getting men and woman out safely to medics. As far as anyone knows the military does not have invisible camouflage yet, but are working on "adaptive camouflage" (107). Adaptive camouflage actively changes what you or your vehicle resembles to match the environment, compared to traditional camouflage, where you use unclear colors and shapes to blend in visually with your surroundings. The theory is to wrap yourself in real time images like the environment surrounding you. So it's like putting on a Unisex jumpsuit that’s a television screen. Researchers from Tokyo University in Japan have developed a prototype of adaptive camouflage. They take a video camera and place it on the back of a white rain coat and it collects and sends the image to the front of the rain coat like a projection. Simple idea, right? The problem with that projection idea is that its required to "show the right image from every angle at once" to become invisible not just from the front, which makes it more complicated, but not impossible (108). Invisible camouflage can, as Wilson Stated, "extend past the battlefield and beyond the woman’s locker room" (109). The possibility of surgeons having the ability to see everything they are utilizing during operations, or pilots’ being able to see through airplanes creates new possibilities. Also, you can get back at Jonny who bullied you in fourth grade; he would never see it coming.

            To my disappointment the exoskeleton super suits was not mentioned in the book. Different variations of the exoskeleton are shown through many science fiction movies, novels, and comic books. Some of the most famous exoskeletons are suits you put on, as in Iron Man, or a suit you walk into and hook yourself up, as shown in Avatar. In Iron Man the exoskeleton is almost like a body suit but has all the qualities of a super weapon; whereas, the exoskeleton in Avatar resembles more of a small transformer armed with large amounts of weapons. Both ideas are different but have the same science fiction concept of being high tech, fast and extremely powerful. Raytheon had an exoskeleton prototype called XOS 2. XOS 2 is more advanced then It’s predecessor and even uses fifty percent less power and it more resistant to the environment. The" lighter, stronger and faster" exoskeleton can be used to help with many of the challenges that the human body cannot withstand, like repetitive heavy lifting, along with enhancements like completing work that 3 soldiers would do (Raytheon.com). XOS 2 is an amazing development with the exoskeleton technology, but we still have many mountains to climb before anyone can wear a fully equpied Iron Man Exoskeletons.

         Daniel Wilson brought to my view the technologies of Smart House and Invisible Camouflage, along with the disadvantages and advancements of them today. Although he did not talk about the exoskeleton super suit Wilson gave accurate information on the Smart House and invisible camouflage with a humorous tone that entrapped me. The technologies of the future are an interesting thought, but so far that is all that technology is. The exoskeleton is nowhere near ready to be used in the military anytime soon, we are not much closer to invisibility than we were when science fiction gave birth to the idea, and the thought of an all-plastic house that can clean, cook, and replicate anything while thinking for itself is almost absurd. I await the day for science fiction to prove me wrong, but until than I will clean my own house, dream of invisibility and rely on non-cyborg soliders to protect me.

.  Work Cited

Marrapodi Eric and Lawrence Chris, CNN. "future soliders may be wearing 'iron Man'         suits"  Web. 22 Sept 2011          <>

Raytheon "Time Magazine Names the XOS 2 Exoskeleton "Most Awesomest" Invention of         2010" Web 22 Sept 2011

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Daniel H. Wilson. "Where's My Jetpack: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future         that Never Arrived"