New Material For Fast-Change Sunglasses, Data Storage

sciencehabit writes "'Researchers have developed a material that almost instantaneously (30 ms) changes from clear to dark blue when exposed to ultraviolet light, and it just as quickly reverts to clear when the light is turned off. The new material, one of a class called photochromics, could be useful in optical data storage as well as in super-fancy sunglasses.'" A comment to the article notes some of the potential dangers of quick-change sunglasses.

Comments

epileptics-need-not-apply. Why not?

[MichaelSmith]

I can imagine situations where the ability to quickly remove a visual stimulus would actually help a person with photosensitive epilepsy.

Re:flicker probably not an issue

[dunkelfalke]

as you might or might not know, the windshield filters the uv rays. phototropic glasses cannot function in a car.

But is the reverse reaction temperature sensitive?

[misterjjones]

The biggest problem with current photochromics in sunglasses is not the speed, but the fact that they darken beautifully in strong sunlight, but only when it's cold.

In hot conditions the temperature sensitive dark=>light process is favoured over the uv sensitive light=>dark process and they stay clear. I don't want glasses that change colour quickly, I want glasses that change stay dark on the beach.

The only use I have for my current "light sensitive" glasses is if I ever go to the Arctic in summer.

What's new?

[ChrisMaple]

I've used a welder's face shield that changes to dark in the presence of UV from welding faster than I can perceive. It changes back to clear when welding stops. Am I missing something that makes this new?