Visual Shrouding
Visual shrouding is a technology that renders physical objects and persons invisible to the naked eye while leaving them otherwise physically present — fully tangible, with mass, texture, and sound. It is described as "state-of-the-art" in the SFL-TIM era, indicating it is cutting-edge but not yet widely known or deployed. Development and testing is associated with DayEleven Tech Inc., a military technology corporation.
Known Capabilities
Objects rendered invisible by visual shrouding retain all non-visual properties:
- Texture and material feel are preserved — a shrouded tree feels rough with bark ridges; a metal object rings loudly when dropped
- Mass is preserved — objects can be stumbled over, picked up, or knocked against
- Sound is produced normally — shrouded items clang, knock, and echo as expected
The technology is applicable to a wide range of object types, including:
- Organic matter (a living or preserved tree with apparent biological properties)
- Metal tools (an axe)
- Vehicles (a car)
- Electronic equipment (a powered desktop computer with a separate power switch)
- Structural elements (walls, a shelf)
- Wearable armor (a supervisor's full-body military suit)
Application to Personnel
At least one variant of visual shrouding is integrated into full-body military armor, allowing personnel to operate while invisible. The supervisor in SFL-TIM Chapter 1 becomes visible only by choice (or possibly by proximity trigger), having been present and undetected throughout the encounter.
Limitations and Open Questions
- Whether visual shrouding affects sound produced by the wearer or object is unconfirmed — footsteps were audible when the supervisor approached
- The energy requirements and mechanism are not described
- Whether it requires an active power source per object is unclear — most items in the test facility were passive, but the computer required an external power switch
Story Appearances
The DayEleven Supervisor's armor appears in both Chapters 1 and 2, demonstrating the technology's use in field operations.