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"People ask me how I do research for my science fiction. The answer is, I never do any research. I just enjoy reading the stuff, and some of it sticks in my mind and fits into the stories."
- Frederik Pohl

Spy Ray Goggles  
  A form of radiation that can penetrate walls to allow the user to 'see' what is happening on the other side.  

Just a brief quote; no real details here.

The silent voice ceased, the watch upon Clio's wrist again became an unobtrusive timepiece, and Costigan, in his solitary cell far below her tower room, turned his peculiarly goggled eyes toward other scenes. In his pockets his hands manipulated tiny controls, and through the lenses of those goggles Costigan's keen and highly-trained eyes studied every concealed detail of mechanism of the great globe, the while he planned what must be done. Finally, he took off the goggles and spoke in a low voice to Bradley, confined in another windowless room across the hall.

"I think I've got dope enough, Captain. I've found out where he put our armor and guns, and I've located all the main leads, controls, and generators. There are no ether-walls around us here, but every door is shielded, and there are guards outside our doors--one to each of us..."

Costigan picked up the projector, again donned his spy-ray goggles, and the two hurried on.

Technovelgy from Triplanetary, by E.E. 'Doc' Smith.
Published by Not known in 1934
Additional resources -

As unlikely as this seems, a variety of "spy rays" are in development to sense what is happening behind apparently impenetrable barriers.

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Additional resources:
  More Ideas and Technology from Triplanetary
  More Ideas and Technology by E.E. 'Doc' Smith
  Tech news articles related to Triplanetary
  Tech news articles related to works by E.E. 'Doc' Smith

Spy Ray Goggles-related news articles:
  - DARPA Radar Scope Can Sense Thru Walls
  - Prism 200 And See Through Walls 3 Other Ways
  - MIT's Microwave Camera Sees Through Walls

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