From Russia With Love Gadgets
Two Way Mirror
The exhaustive litany of gadgets takes a break until we see Klebb and Grant peering through a two way mirror at Tatiana Romanova and our action hero getting it on. It’s all a bit Peeping Tom really.
Now, Bond was very careful with his bug sweeping earlier, but the lure of action caused him to drop his guard. Hardly surprising, I suppose, it’s not every day that you come home from a hard day’s spying to find a beautiful stranger in your bed.
If only he had taken time to try the fingernail test he could have wrapped the case up in no time.
For the uninitiated, you place your finger nail against a mirror – if there is a gap between said fingernail and reflective image it is a regular mirror. If the image touches your fingernail, it is a two way mirror. Having said that, 007 probably had Tatiana to think about rather than who might be watching.
Now, Bond was very careful with his bug sweeping earlier, but the lure of action caused him to drop his guard. Hardly surprising, I suppose, it’s not every day that you come home from a hard day’s spying to find a beautiful stranger in your bed.
If only he had taken time to try the fingernail test he could have wrapped the case up in no time.
For the uninitiated, you place your finger nail against a mirror – if there is a gap between said fingernail and reflective image it is a regular mirror. If the image touches your fingernail, it is a two way mirror. Having said that, 007 probably had Tatiana to think about rather than who might be watching.
One Way Mirror?
Scientifically, a two way mirror is also known as a one way mirror. We have no idea why.
The way it works is when one side of the mirror is lit brightly and the other side is dark, a viewer can stand on the dark side and see the action through the mirror, while those on the other side cannot see back.
The principle is actually quite simple. The layer of aluminium that is placed as the back of an ordinary mirror, is extra thing, virtually transparent - the resulting effect is that a mirror is created on one side and on the reverse the aluminium is sufficiently see through, for the viewer to literally, see through.
The way it works is when one side of the mirror is lit brightly and the other side is dark, a viewer can stand on the dark side and see the action through the mirror, while those on the other side cannot see back.
The principle is actually quite simple. The layer of aluminium that is placed as the back of an ordinary mirror, is extra thing, virtually transparent - the resulting effect is that a mirror is created on one side and on the reverse the aluminium is sufficiently see through, for the viewer to literally, see through.
Reflective Mirror FilmThe Two Way Mirror is commonly used in police interrogation rooms and in security areas, such as airports. Perhaps the most famous use is for the TV show, Big Brother.
In many respects the principle operates in the same fashion as tinted windows in vehicles. The best use we can find for commonly used practical purposes (after all, most of us don't have the need for an interrogation room), is silver reflective mirror film, which can be used on windows - it is used to aid privacy and reduce glare, solar heat and UV by up to 80%. The film reflects the brighter side so used for external facing glazed windows which are subject to bright sunlight, or of course for additional privacy. A 50cm x 1m sheet costs from £6.50. |
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Photo: From Russia With Love 1963 Danjaq, LLC, & United Artists Corporation. All rights reserved
