Slashdot Mirror
Virginia Company Creates Dynamic Eyeglasses
tetrahedrassface writes "NewScientistTech is reporting that newly developed 'smart glasses' can change focus instantly from long distance to reading mode. The dynamic glasses change focus using a 5-micron-thick layer of nematic liquid crystal, sandwiched between two pieces of glass, and will be commercially available in 2 years by PixalOptics."
"The idea is to put the focusing power found in the lens of a camera on your face all the time."
That means that the glasses would also require batteries, and would need recharging, and would be heavy at first. Sounds a bit too much.
I see two problems with using a switch to change distance viewing. The first is, of course, that it's not totally convient. The second is that it limits the possible viewing distances. This doesn't seem a problem to people without glasses, or at worst bifocals, but I know someone who needs trifocals. Why not wait a bit on this technology until they can take a picture of your eyes to see how far away the focal distance is and get a perfect focus?
Does a line appended to your comment give your post meaning in and of itself, or only in relation to those without?
I've wondered why they didn't do this before. It's cool that they finally are. It'll be great when these measure the eye and adjust focus automatically to where you're trying to look and to correct your vision as it changes over time. I imagine the electronics should be pretty easy to scale down as I can't think of any reason why these would be very complicated. Battery life shouldn't be to big a deal. I wonder if they could be kept charged by the user's motion between full recharges.
At what price learning? At what cost wisdom? The price is a man's peace of mind, and the cost is his life.
...driving while reading slightly less dangerous...
Slightly...
I'll form my OWN solar system! With blackjack! And hookers!
Do they come with a handle on the bridge to push them up with, or do you still have to find an aftermarket dealer?
Oooooooo, the new phonebooks are here!
--
"Outlook not so good." That magic 8-ball knows everything! I'll ask about Exchange Server next.
One of the guys in charge of this project used to be my optometrist! I know that that doesn't add the slightest bit of insight to the story, but it's still pretty sweet to be able to say "Hey! Slashdot! The dude you're reading about has had his finger in my eye and used the 'big poof of air to the eyeball' weapon on me!"
Okay, so sue me. I haven't had mod points in a while and I need validation...
Actually, it is the lens. At least, that's the most likely theory.
Muscles pulling on the lens would make it thinner, magnifying less. So that's not the issue.
I let my optician's license expire over a decade ago, but I had to put my 2 cents in.
Take a look here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyopia
Trust not a man who's rich in flax / His morals may be sadly lax
All the cool cinematic field and zooming trick?
Nothing like hooking up a special-effect bud earphone and biofeedback probes with it and watch all the everyday items with increased intensity... such as:
1. Love of your life.... Optical background scene zooms in but subject matter stays the same size, with slow tempo and increased aria/choral music followed by your silent soft heart thumping sound.
2. Fear... Refractoral angular re-zoom (without moving your eyes) in on the hazards coupled with Jaws themes
3. Anxiety... Quirky and continual focusing lens motion couple with the rushing din of noises.
4. Calm... Added downward microstreaking of lens to simulate rain coupled with waterfall background.
Far-fetched? Perhaps not much sooner than later...