Eyeglasses are almost as old as the civilization itself. They have not changed much since Benjamin Franklin's bifocals in the 18th century. Nor were they made obsolete by laser surgery and contacts. Still, eyeglass technology leaves much to be desired.
There has been a lot of research to improve the limitations of bifocal lenses and reduce the side effects - headaches, dizziness, muscle fatigue and the small field of view. Introduction of trifocals and progressive multifocal lenses did not solve all the problems.
There has been a lot of research to improve the limitations of bifocal lenses and reduce the side effects - headaches, dizziness, muscle fatigue and the small field of view. Introduction of trifocals and progressive multifocal lenses did not solve all the problems.
New materials and technologies may help to interactively adjust the lens in glasses or change focus on the fly.
Like self-adjustable glasses invented by Josh Silver (shown on the right). Fluid-filled lenses promise to correct a wide range of vision problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness and inability to focus. No need to see an optometrist that most people in the developing world can't afford.The price of these glasses, however, remain too high even for the developed world - as the quality is still inferior to inexpensive off-the-shelf glasses that can be easily test-driven in the drug store.
Like self-adjustable glasses invented by Josh Silver (shown on the right). Fluid-filled lenses promise to correct a wide range of vision problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness and inability to focus. No need to see an optometrist that most people in the developing world can't afford.The price of these glasses, however, remain too high even for the developed world - as the quality is still inferior to inexpensive off-the-shelf glasses that can be easily test-driven in the drug store.
One of the new lens technologies gaining most attention is adjustable-focus eyeglasses.
8 years ago, adjustable-focus Superfocus' glasses with fluid-filled lenses, were introduced to the commercial market. They glasses required manual adjustment of the focus - by moving the slider on the nose bridge, looked "clunky and ugly", were priced at $900 (later discounted to about $600), but grew a loyal following. Nevertheless, the company went out of business, and several new companies since kept trying to step into the gap. Adlens and Dial Vision are now offering glasses adjustable for both near or far-sighted for less than $20 (shown on the right).
8 years ago, adjustable-focus Superfocus' glasses with fluid-filled lenses, were introduced to the commercial market. They glasses required manual adjustment of the focus - by moving the slider on the nose bridge, looked "clunky and ugly", were priced at $900 (later discounted to about $600), but grew a loyal following. Nevertheless, the company went out of business, and several new companies since kept trying to step into the gap. Adlens and Dial Vision are now offering glasses adjustable for both near or far-sighted for less than $20 (shown on the right).
The early prototype of new glasses automatically focusing on whatever the wearer is looking at was displayed at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. The glasses feature tunable lenses from liquid glycerin. An infrared sensor in the bridge of the glasses calculates the distance between the glasses and the closest objects and controls the shape of the lenses. It takes only 14 milliseconds to re-adjust the focus. But the glasses resemble professor Fransworth's eyewear (the mad scientist from Futurama, pictured on the left).
The inventors hope that after a few technological and styling improvements, the product will hit store shelves in two or three years.
The inventors hope that after a few technological and styling improvements, the product will hit store shelves in two or three years.
Science fiction stories have ambitious vision for the future eyeglasses. Geordi La Forge's VISOR furnished information - such as images or temperatures - directly to his brain. Marty McFly Jr. used his glasses to watch shows. In Surrogates, glasses enable to watch one's own life - as it is lived by surrogate robots. Nada's glasses identify aliens. Harry Tasker's glasses help to have a 360 all-around-vision.
Some of these technologies are slowly becoming mainstream. Google glass has showcased the potential of smart eyewear. Microsoft's patent suggested to use glasses to detect other people's emotions. AVG glasses use infrared light to recognize faces. Dispelix brings visual information directly into the user's field of vision, to prevent eye strain. X-ray glasses from Even Medical enable to see veins. BMW is developing glasses to help with driving. Virtual reality is still boutique technology, but is gaining steam. A recent paper showed that Augmented Reality - when an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle operator can see both the mission plan as well as the video stream captured by the drone - significantly improved situational awareness.
New and exciting technologies are unfolding before our eyes. So, perhaps, smart glasses will come back smarter - letting us see the world like we've never seen before.
Some of these technologies are slowly becoming mainstream. Google glass has showcased the potential of smart eyewear. Microsoft's patent suggested to use glasses to detect other people's emotions. AVG glasses use infrared light to recognize faces. Dispelix brings visual information directly into the user's field of vision, to prevent eye strain. X-ray glasses from Even Medical enable to see veins. BMW is developing glasses to help with driving. Virtual reality is still boutique technology, but is gaining steam. A recent paper showed that Augmented Reality - when an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle operator can see both the mission plan as well as the video stream captured by the drone - significantly improved situational awareness.
New and exciting technologies are unfolding before our eyes. So, perhaps, smart glasses will come back smarter - letting us see the world like we've never seen before.
REFERENCES
Douali MG, & Silver JD (2004). Self-optimised vision correction with adaptive spectacle lenses in developing countries. Ophthalmic & physiological optics : the journal of the British College of Ophthalmic Opticians (Optometrists), 24 (3), 234-41 PMID: 15130172
Gudlavalleti VS, Allagh KP, & Gudlavalleti AS (2014). Self-adjustable glasses in the developing world. Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.), 8, 405-13 PMID: 24570581
Hasan N, Banerjee A, Kim H, & Mastrangelo CH (2017). Tunable-focus lens for adaptive eyeglasses. Optics express, 25 (2), 1221-1233 PMID: 28158006
Ruano S, Cuevas C, Gallego G, & García N (2017). Augmented Reality Tool for the Situational Awareness Improvement of UAV Operators. Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), 17 (2) PMID: 28178189
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