Courtesy Opto-Electronic Design

Here's the latest in anti-burglar technology.

FakeTV simulates the flickering glow of a television against a wall to fool would-be burglars into thinking someone's home.

Light timers have been around for ages but don't work for modern televisions, a company news release says. "The bad guys generally know this, and for thieves the light from an operating television is an unwelcome sight."

Author and inventor Blaine Readler teamed with Opto-Electronic Design to produce FakeTV.

They studied the intensity and color variations of television programs such as news programs, dramas, commercials and game shows, and then wrote computer programs to simulate these effects, the release says. "Test subjects were unable to tell the difference between the prototype television simulator and the real thing."

FakeTV has suggested retail price of $49.99 but is avalable now for $39.99.