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Researchers Create Artificial Insect Eye

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the fly-spy dept.

maxzilla writes "An artificial insect eye that could be used in ultra-thin cameras has been developed by scientists in the US.The dimpled eye, contains over 8,500 hexagonal lenses packed into an area the size of a pinhead. The dome-shaped structure, described in the journal Science, is similar to a bee's eye. The researchers, from the University of California, Berkeley, say the work may also shed light on how insects developed such complex, visual systems. Darpa is also funding this project with applications expected for digital cameras and high speed motion detectors."

6 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. And for their next trick... by unitron · · Score: 2, Interesting
    "Researchers Create Artificial Insect Eye"

    When will they be getting around to the rest of the artificial insect?

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    I see even classic Slashdot is now pretty much unusable on dial up anymore.

    1. Re:And for their next trick... by Dr.+GeneMachine · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Why build artificial insects when you can remote control cockroaches?

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      This comment does not exist.
    2. Re:And for their next trick... by CRCulver · · Score: 5, Interesting

      When will they be getting around to the rest of the artificial insect?

      In his book The Age of Spiritual Machines , futurist Ray Kurzweil ventures that the transformation of humans from flesh-and-blood to total machine bodies will start with small augmentations like this, proceeding step by step until everything original is replaced.

    3. Re:And for their next trick... by suv4x4 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      In his book The Age of Spiritual Machines , futurist Ray Kurzweil ventures that the transformation of humans from flesh-and-blood to total machine bodies will start with small augmentations like this, proceeding step by step until everything original is replaced.

      That's pretty good, and natural. After all only then we'll be in power to control out own destiny. Of course I don't see the brain being replaced in the near 100-200 years, not just for technical, but also religious, political and moral reasons.

  2. Is it end of blindness? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Relevant stories has been on slashdot before here and here where scientists have successfully developed artificial eyes and implanted.

    The question, I want to ask is, is it still in research phase or professional services will start becoming available, when and how much it might cost?

    There is pool of blind people in developing countries like India, China and so on. The inofrmation might be useful for them too.

    [Posting anonymously to avoid karma whoring]

  3. Animal Inspired Optics by stuckinarut · · Score: 2, Interesting

    It's not only insects we're mimicing, crustaceans too. Astronomers have investigated the eyes of lobsters and used the way they focus light to create a Lobster Telescope For X-Rays