What would it be like to have radio wave vision?

Question

Radio waves are the longest and weakest waves of light. We can see visible light, a very short part of the spectrum. What if we could see radio waves, what would it look like? Would the radio waves flying around everywhere from radio stations bombard our senses, annoy us, or not bother us at all? What exactly would we be seeing? How would it be in conjunction to being able to also see visible light, and how would it be if we could only see radio waves?

Answer 1

Microwave telescopes used in astronomy image electromagnetic radiation a bit shorter in wavelength than radio waves emitted by galaxies and such. The same principles used in optical telescopes apply, but they have to be much larger since, to form an image, the reflector must be large compared to the wavelength. If one were to be re-tuned for radio waves and aimed at a radio antenna, it would look like a bright spot the shape of the antenna, like staring at the filament of a light bulb. As for reflected light, again the same principles apply. Metal structures reflect better than, say, wood. So, cars would would look bright and shiny, like they were made of mirrors, and trees would look dark.

Answer 2

Different radio waves travel in different patters. For instance, a horizontal radio wave would travel along a ground plane, or largely parallel to the ground. It would be like seeing ripples in a pond when you toss a pebble in, except because there are so many radio waves, your perception would be suffering from blight, that is, too many radio waves interacting across a broad horizontal patter.

Now add to that radio waves that travel in a vertical position. Radiating outwards like arched columns standing on end, headed straight towards you.

There are also hemispheric radio waves, such as TV and broadcast med signals that have properties similar to both horizontal ground plan and vertical waves.

Now add to that natural radio energy coming in from outer space, like x-rays, ultra-violet rays, etc.

It would definitely look like a 3 dimensional kaleidoscope.

Add to that ordinary visual perception and you would be bombarded by everything at once!

I doubt you would see anything but white noise.

Answer 3

I do not think you would have to worry about this because if a device were to cause this annoying effect to people then it would not have been developed - yet alone put into operation to effect the public by large.
No radio stations, no wireless communication, etc.

Answer 4

It would drive you crazy. Just think of all the radio stations and cell phones in use at any given time.

Answer 5

When I listen to music I see the sound just like you were viewing it on a graphic equalizer with an oscilliscope function.

Answer 6

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/tryit/radio/#

this might help you