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Light Based Burglar Discombobulator

An exercise for the pupil
  (+6)
(+6)
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The most effective method of temporarily blinding an intruder in the dark is to shine a bright light until their pupils are contracted, then turn it off and wait for them to fully dilate again. Rinse and repeat as they say: all they'll see is afterimages.

So, when a burglar is detected, the LCD TV and computer monitors... maybe a few extra thrown in just for such an occasion... are activated and warmed up. Then the razzle-dazzle program begins, varying the rate slightly so's the second-storeyman isn't able to simply close their eyes before a flash.

Unlike an audio alarm of sufficient volume to cause disorientation, the homeowner, being familiar with the layout, can simply close their eyes and go hit the "deactivate" button if it turns out to be the cat again. The homeowner could even sleep through it.

FlyingToaster, Nov 30 2011

http://en.wikipedia...ki/Jasper_Maskelyne [not_morrison_rm, Nov 30 2011]

Photosensitive Epilepsy http://en.wikipedia...osensitive_epilepsy
As mentioned in an annotation. [Vernon, Dec 01 2011]

[link]






       Why limit it to white? Multiple colours might be even more confusing, and cause the burglar to mistake the layout of objects in the room, leading to hilarious pratfalls. [+]
gisho, Nov 30 2011
  

       Hang on. You're saying that flashing monitors and TVs will be sufficient to dazzle and then disorient a burglar? I find that hard to believe.
MaxwellBuchanan, Nov 30 2011
  

       It might work for a few seconds, especially if paired with an audio component. Joe Homeowner may not be so quick to react, but in our household a few seconds is all we need.   

       Emergency strobes in every ceiling corner would probably work better.
Alterother, Nov 30 2011
  

       But with a fast strobelight it's possible to coordinate movement somewhat.   

       Mostly the time in between flashes would be just enough for the pupils to return to wide open... a little randomized because we don't want the burglar simply shutting their eyes when they know it's going to flash.
FlyingToaster, Nov 30 2011
  

       You are assuming that the burglar won't sue you when he gets disoriented and stubs his toe?
scad mientist, Nov 30 2011
  

       Personally, I'm assuming that a stubbed toe will be the least of the burglar's problems, but responces may vary from one home to the next.
Alterother, Nov 30 2011
  

       //It might work for a few seconds,// I may be prejudicially misinformed, but I was under the impression that most burglaries were committed by yoof, who voluntarily spend hours at a time in confined places where they are battered with loud noises and flashing lights.
MaxwellBuchanan, Nov 30 2011
  

       It's all about timing: flash goes off and the pupils contract then slowly open up then the flash goes off again. The burglar would just end up seeing afterimages.
FlyingToaster, Nov 30 2011
  

       //To mask the Suez Canal he built a revolving cone of mirrors that created a wheel of spinning light nine miles wide, meant to dazzle and disorient enemy pilots so that their bombs would fall off-target.//   

       Maybe check out the flash rate on Jasper Maskelyne idea...see link
not_morrison_rm, Nov 30 2011
  

       ^ couldn't find flash rate, though I've decided that I want an inflatable Sherman tank for Xmas.
FlyingToaster, Dec 01 2011
  

       Some people can have an epileptic fit triggered by an appropriate sequence of rapidly flashing lights (link). The burglar so affected may have a valid lawsuit potential.
Vernon, Dec 01 2011
  

       I doubt it. He wasn't invited in to view the light show, he's a party-crasher; it's not our fault that he wasn't here when we read the disclaimer out loud.
Alterother, Dec 01 2011
  

       Re: law suits:
Put a small printed disclaimer next to the front door, warning of strobes (etc), signed and dated.
Have burglars successfully sued for this kind of crap (getting injured while breaking-and-entering) in the USA?
neutrinos_shadow, Dec 01 2011
  

       Yes, but it doesn't always work. The successful cases are usually brought against businesses rather than private homeowners.
Alterother, Dec 01 2011
  

       +
Zimmy, Dec 05 2011
  
      
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