Nerds move one step closer to sex with Seven of Nine

From an article on a photographic sensing system based on the reflection of light off of objects, here’s Technology Research News: “Camera sees behind objects” (hat tip: Boing Boing)

The work also advances efforts aimed at collecting all of the visual information about a scene by sensing light scattered off objects within it and using the information to create views of the scene from any angle under any lighting condition. The ultimate goal of this area of imaging research is photorealistic virtual reality -- the visual component of the Star Trek holodeck.

The technology can (allegedly) read playing cards by analyzing the light on surfaces behind them, making it easier to cheat at poker too. The final challenge: one of those Star Trek replicators to make beer and pizza.