Electrochromic sunglasses change color on demand

We'll admit, we didn't think MyDo's Bururu vibrating spectacles would be topped anytime soon, and while the University of Washington's smart sunglasses don't snatch the crown outright, they certainly make a solid case. The admittedly gaudy prototype certainly isn't the most attractive eyewear we've ever seen, but researchers are insisting that we focus on the electrochromic material that enables on demand color / tint changing rather than the bulky frames. The film can purportedly alter its transparency depending on the electric current that flows through it, essentially giving athletes and motorists an easy way to instantly adjust the level of reflection and tint depending on the ever-changing circumstances around them. Touted as "more active and more intelligent" that existing specs, this watch-battery-powered device allows the wearer to alter the shade by simply spinning a wee dial on the arm, and while we wish we could tell you that U-Dub's swank new specs would be arriving before the bright summer rays, it'll be quite "a few years" before these hit commercialization.

[Via Primidi]

[Karl-Koenig Koenigsson @ Mar 29th 2007 3:25AM]

Finally I can have proper Peril Sensitive Sunglasses!

[dancnpete @ Mar 29th 2007 6:52PM]

I literally thought this was a good idea 10 years ago and I've just been waiting for the scientist the step up to the plate, now if they can get me my hoverboard things will be ok

[ethana2 @ Apr 30th 2007 12:07AM]

The hover board will have to wait until we can manipulate subspace with phase conjugate EM radiation. As for the glasses, just make sure it's a wireless peripheral that runs under Linux. Most people think that for some reason if you have accelerometers and photo sensors, it can't be a regular PC. I strongly disagree. Regular, flexible PC's need to run everything from the car to the kitchen sink. Can you say, "digitally coordinated silenced plumbing"? Then you have this, another peripheral.

Now you can add more functionality to it whenever you please. Like setting brightness to estimated outside ambient compensation based on latitude and time. Or having it turn red to remind you of events you stored in Google Calendars or Evolution. Really. Don't make it independent. Use it to unleash the PC. It's time the laptop became the new backpack.