Observes concave-mirror demonstration on Oct 21, 1976, inspiring her invention of the Illusion Transmitter.
On October 21, 1976, during a science demonstration, Thomas was captivated by the exhibit involving concave mirrors. This exhibit showed a real-image reflection of a light bulb that seemed to exist in space without a screen, sparking her imagination. Inspired by this, she began conceptualizing what would become the Illusion Transmitter — a device designed for three-dimensional image projection. This moment of inspiration would lead to the development of a device that would later earn her a notable U.S. patent.