It was over a year ago that UC Berkeley introduced the world to
CellScope, the 60x microscope for cellphones made from cheap, off the shelf components (like a re-purposed belt clip). Now, even though we're disappointingly still not seeing this thing in stores, there's an upgraded version able to take pictures of even
smaller nasties. Using a filter the scope can now spot microscopic critters tagged with dye that glows under fluorescent light -- things like Mycobacterium tuberculosis (that's the cause of TB if you, like us, lack a med degree). A software app is able to then count the number of cells within a given sample and tell you whether to worry about that annoying cough. There's still no word on whether this product will ever actually start scoping out such things in the wild, but we certainly hope it will -- if only so that we can keep our vast collection of cellphone accessories complete. Video after the break.
[Via
Crave]
posted Jul 22nd 2009 9:22AM
So is it a microscope or a telescope? Microscopes don't do a good job of photographing people like the picture indicates.
What if its a really really tiny person?
I think that pic's supposed to be the UV upgrade...
Useful for tying to find the life you don't have...
That thing is going to be lit up like crazy at Berkley.
In addition to clinical uses, I think this could be useful for field work in probably anything involving biology. Examples would include remote areas that lack quick access to laboratories. Take a photo of the magnified sample, send the image to the lab for preliminary analysis and then send in an actual sample.
+1 for the image of Ultra-Violet from the cult vampire film in reference to the UV imaging capability
-1 to the others that just called it a tiny person on the cellphone screen, not realizing the pun intended.
and again, as in original post on this tech, useful for diagnosing and identifying germs in underdeveloped regions of the world for a huge cost savings in equiment. It's not designed for the general public, but for backpacking doctors in the rainforests. Oh and for the women who love to love a specific group of underdeveloped men.
Don't forget -10 for your lousy sense of humour.
sounds like someone got a bit sensative when i mentioned underdeveloped men.
do you really want to continue this string? it'll only get worse for you.
I bet you're fun at parties...
Judging by the image on the phone's screen, I'm not so sure this guy is planning on using the microscope for too much 'med degree' type work either.......
Hahaha, love the Ultraviolet picture. Nice touch! I think Milla Jovovich was the only good thing in that movie and, depending on your opinion, that's not saying much.
multipass
chickan... good
wait just a darned minute here... how DARE they not use an iPhone to show off their product!!! Don't they know the iPhone is the ONLY phone you can modify and develop for???
This is the start of armageddon, and I for one don't like it. >:(
that thing reminds me of the aliens movie.... an alien infected nokia phone
I guess you never saw that movie?
it seems your not so imaginative... the highlight for the alien series was when the alien pops out of a persons stomach or the tongue of the alien sticking out. i was just thinking since the end of the scope kind of looks like a claw, it resembles the small aliens in the movie...
The video is more a macro attachment, not the real cellphone microscope scientist introduced earlier for use in the field/3rd world
Oh and the picture above the article is merely a placeholder/attentiongrabber/joke.
The guy has looking like a scientist down though, good job on the hair specifically.
Love seeing the N73 pictured above. It's been a great phone for me for the last 1.5 years, and worked reasonably well as a camera with it's auto focus capabilities (macro mode was pretty good too thanks to that). No 3.5mm headphone jack and only 2GB mini/microSD capability meant the A/V usage was limited, and EDGE was a bit slow, but otherwise no complaints!
Are you sure it's only compatible to 2GB micro sd? Even old Nokia N95s can use 16GB cards. Documentation doesn't list it, but they work. Give it a try.
(don't see my reply posted...yet?)
If you didn't know, the N73 came out some time before the N95. I've never had a non SDHC 4GB card to try, but it didn't like my 8GB SDHC card.
is that a cellscope in your pocket or are you happy to see me?
It makes so much more sense to use the crappy camera in a cell phone for this, rather than a quality camera.
I'm pretty sure a macro lens on a DSLR would blow the doors off this thing.
Can anyone advise how to purchase this [60x] attachment? I CRAVE IT!
PLEASE respond directly => martinrisk@earthlink.net
Thank [someone] in advance.