Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[New high-res imaging could make biopsies obsolete, doctors still cutting up in meantime]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/new-high-res-imaging-could-make-biopsies-obsolete-doctors-still/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/new-high-res-imaging-could-make-biopsies-obsolete-doctors-still/http://www.engadget.com/2011/02/21/new-high-res-imaging-could-make-biopsies-obsolete-doctors-still/#comments So maybe a true-to-life Innerspace is still a few years off, but a professor at the University of Rochester has developed a way to take high-resolution 3D images under the skin's surface, potentially eliminating the need for biopsies in cancer detection. Professor Jannick Rolland created a prototype that uses a liquid lens, in which a droplet of water replaces the standard glass lens, in conjunction with near-infrared light, to take thousands of pictures at varying depths. Those images are then combined to create clear, 3D renderings of what lies up to one millimeter below your epidermis. The method has already been tested on livings beings, but is likely a long way from making it to your doctor's office, which means it's off to the guillotine for that Pangaea-shaped mole you've been picking at.

New high-res imaging could make biopsies obsolete, doctors still cutting up in meantime originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biopsycancercancer detectioncancer researchCancerDetectionCancerResearchdetectiondiagnostic imagingDiagnosticImaginghealthJannick RollandJannickRollandliquid lensliquid lensesLiquidLensLiquidLensesmedicalmedical researchMedicalResearchmedicinemicroscopynear-infraredNIRresearchUniversity of RochesterUniversityOfRochesterMon, 21 Feb 2011 21:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers develop 'liquid pistons' for cameras, medical use]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/13/researchers-develop-liquid-pistons-for-cameras-medical-use/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/13/researchers-develop-liquid-pistons-for-cameras-medical-use/http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/13/researchers-develop-liquid-pistons-for-cameras-medical-use/#commentsIt may still be years away from any sort of practical use, but a team of researchers at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed some so-called "liquid pistons" that they say could shake up everything from cameras to medical devices. Those pistons consist of some droplets of "nanoparticle-infused ferrofluids," which are able to oscillate and precisely displace a surrounding liquid. In the case of a camera, that could be used for a liquid lens of sorts (as seen at right), and the researchers say the same technology may one day even be used for implantable eye lenses. The possibilites don't end with optical uses, though -- the researchers say that the precise ability to pump small volumes of liquid could also be used for implantable drug-delivery systems that would be able to deliver tiny doses at regular intervals. Of course, there's no indication as to when any of that might happen -- in the meantime, you can occupy yourself with the brief but oddly hypnotic video after the break.

Continue reading Researchers develop 'liquid pistons' for cameras, medical use

Researchers develop 'liquid pistons' for cameras, medical use originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 13 Jan 2011 10:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>implantimplantablelenslensesliquid lensliquid lensesliquid pistonliquid pistonsLiquidLensLiquidLensesLiquidPistonLiquidPistonsnanotechnanotechnologyRensselaer Polytechnic InstituteRensselaerPolytechnicInstitutevideoThu, 13 Jan 2011 10:11:00 EST<![CDATA[LG Display busts out 84-inch 3DTV with 3,840 x 2,160 res, we want the 2D version]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/25/lg-display-busts-out-84-inch-3dtv-with-3-840-x-2-160-res-we-wan/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/25/lg-display-busts-out-84-inch-3dtv-with-3-840-x-2-160-res-we-wan/http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/25/lg-display-busts-out-84-inch-3dtv-with-3-840-x-2-160-res-we-wan/#comments Yesterday we brought you Samsung's 19 inches of transparent AMOLED goodness, today LG counters with an 84-inch 3DTV boasting UHD resolution and a claim to being the world's biggest of its kind. To be honest, at that size you really can't get away with old reliable 1080p, so it's comforting to see LG's keeping pixel pitch in mind when designing its headline grabbers. In other news coming out of the SID 2010 show, LG is demonstrating a "liquid lens" TV that'll give you glasses-free 3D, though the details of how that works are a bit scarce, while the company's also pushing its IPS wares in a big way, with a 47-inch HDTV, a 32-inch pro monitor, and a 9.7-inch (sounds familiar) smartbook on show. Also at 9.7 inches, we have color e-paper that's slated for mass production before the end of the year, while that flexible e-paper from January is also making an appearance. A pretty comprehensive bunch of goodies from LG, we'd say.

Update: We just noticed a small but freaky 3.98-inch UHD LCD with a world's best 394ppi density. Amazing.

LG Display busts out 84-inch 3DTV with 3,840 x 2,160 res, we want the 2D version originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 25 May 2010 05:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.98-inch394ppi3d3d lcd3d tv3dLcd3dTv4-inchcolor e-paperColorE-paperdisplaye-paperglasses-free 3dGlasses-free3dipslcdlglg displayLgDisplayliquid lensLiquidLenspixel densityPixelDensityppisid 2010Sid2010tv setTvSetuhdultra high definitionUltraHighDefinitionworlds largestWorldsLargestTue, 25 May 2010 05:38:00 EST<![CDATA[TruFocals make steampunk glasses a functional, expensive reality]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/trufocals-make-steampunk-glasses-a-functional-expensive-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/trufocals-make-steampunk-glasses-a-functional-expensive-reality/http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/trufocals-make-steampunk-glasses-a-functional-expensive-reality/#comments
Glasses with an adjustable focal length -- sounds so simple, somebody must have already done it, right? Well, yes, but earlier efforts have looked more like diving goggles than something you could, you know, wear in public. The Harry Potter-esque TruFocals, on the other hand, are (only just) acceptable looking and operate via the golden slider you see above. By tweaking translucent fluids between a pair of lenses for each eye, it alters the distance at which the specs focus, sort of like having your very own zoom function. The price for such flexibility is $895, which inventor Stephen Kurtin considers a sterling bargain, and we've got video of him after the break explaining just how awesomely revolutionary his product is.

[Via CNET]

Continue reading TruFocals make steampunk glasses a functional, expensive reality

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TruFocals make steampunk glasses a functional, expensive reality originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adaptive glassesAdaptiveGlassesagingeyeeyeglasseseyesightglassesliquid lensLiquidLensspecsStephen KurtinStephenKurtinTruFocalsvisionTue, 11 Aug 2009 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Varioptic liquid lenses now shipping in SnakeCam webcam]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/varioptic-liquid-lenses-now-shipping-in-snakecam-webcam/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/varioptic-liquid-lenses-now-shipping-in-snakecam-webcam/http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/25/varioptic-liquid-lenses-now-shipping-in-snakecam-webcam/#comments
We've been hearing about how Varioptic's liquid camera lenses would revolutionize cellphones for a while now, so it's a little bit surprising to see the oil-and-water optics pop up in Akkord Electronics' el cheapo SnakeCam webcams first. The 1.3 megapixel S1300 and 2.0 megapixel S2000 cams feature a Varioptic Arctic 416 lens, as well as bendy mount, built-in microphone, and CMOS sensor, and will sell for just $20 per unit -- but we'd imagine that whoever ends up rebranding these will mark that up a bit.

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Varioptic liquid lenses now shipping in SnakeCam webcam originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 25 Jun 2008 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>akkord electronicsAkkordElectronicsliquid lensliquid lensesLiquidLensLiquidLensessnake camSnakeCamvariopticWed, 25 Jun 2008 14:19:00 EST<![CDATA[Varioptic and Seiko to start manufacturing liquid camera lenses]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/14/varioptic-and-seiko-to-start-manufacturing-liquid-camera-lenses/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/14/varioptic-and-seiko-to-start-manufacturing-liquid-camera-lenses/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/14/varioptic-and-seiko-to-start-manufacturing-liquid-camera-lenses/#commentsCould it be that liquid lenses for cellphone cameras are finally about to go from promising-but-undelivered tech to the real thing? We're not holding out hope -- they didn't rock the world when they popped up in a couple nondescript Samsung phones before -- but Varioptic and Seiko have just announced a deal to crank out 500,000 of the goopy buggers a month starting in Q3. It's not clear exactly what cellphones these are going to turn up in, apart from being targeted at 5 megapixel camera modules that require continuous auto-focus in video mode.

[Via Phone Scoop]

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Varioptic and Seiko to start manufacturing liquid camera lenses originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lensliquid lensliquid lensesLiquidLensLiquidLensesseikovariopticFri, 14 Mar 2008 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Varioptic and Seiko to start manufacturing liquid camera lenses]]>http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/14/varioptic-and-seiko-to-start-manufacturing-liquid-camera-lenses/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/14/varioptic-and-seiko-to-start-manufacturing-liquid-camera-lenses/http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/14/varioptic-and-seiko-to-start-manufacturing-liquid-camera-lenses/#commentsCould it be that liquid lenses for cellphone cameras are finally about to go from promising-but-undelivered tech to the real thing? We're not holding out hope -- they didn't rock the world when they popped up in a couple nondescript Samsung phones before -- but Varioptic and Seiko have just announced a deal to crank out 500,000 of the goopy buggers a month starting in Q3. It's not clear exactly what cellphones these are going to turn up in, apart from being targeted at 5 megapixel camera modules that require continuous auto-focus in video mode.

[Via Phone Scoop]

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Varioptic and Seiko to start manufacturing liquid camera lenses originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lensliquid lensliquid lensesLiquidLensLiquidLensesmobileseikovariopticFri, 14 Mar 2008 21:15:00 EST<![CDATA[German researchers create zooming liquid lenses]]>http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/12/german-researchers-create-zooming-liquid-lenses/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/12/german-researchers-create-zooming-liquid-lenses/http://www.engadget.com/2007/06/12/german-researchers-create-zooming-liquid-lenses/#commentsLiquid lenses have been kicking around as the Next Big Thing for a while, but outside of cameo appearances in a couple Samsung cellphones, they haven't exactly made waves in the market. That may be in part due to the fact that they can be made smaller and cheaper than conventional optics, but haven't been able to provide zoom or particularly high resolution. All that might be changing, however, as a Fraunhofer Institute team working in conjunction with French firm Varioptic has developed a system of 4 liquid lenses that can snap from 1 - 2.5x magnification at the touch of a button. The system isn't quite ready for primetime yet -- exposure times are still a little long, it can't zoom continuously, and the assembly is a little big at 29mm -- but the team is already considering solutions to those problems and is ready to go to the prototype stage. With all the interest from cellphone manufacturers, we'll bet they solve those problems right quick.

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German researchers create zooming liquid lenses originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 16:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fraunhoferliquid lensLiquidLensvariopticTue, 12 Jun 2007 16:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Researchers create human-like "shape-shifting" lens]]>http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/04/researchers-create-human-like-shape-shifting-lens/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/04/researchers-create-human-like-shape-shifting-lens/http://www.engadget.com/2006/08/04/researchers-create-human-like-shape-shifting-lens/#comments Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have gone back to the source for inspiration with their new artificial lens, creating a so-called "shape-shifting" lens that mimics the way a human eye works. Like other liquid lenses, theirs uses a glass-oil-water interface, but it also adds a a ring of polymer gel around the lens that acts like a muscle, changing the focal length as it expands and contracts. What's more, the gel apparently works simply by reacting to environmental changes, like a rise in temperature or change in acidity, allowing for both smaller and more power-efficient imaging devices than other similar lenses. One example the researchers give is an implantable lens that could react to protein changes in the human body. Not quite Fantastic Voyage territory, but we'll take what we can get.

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Researchers create human-like "shape-shifting" lens originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Aug 2006 05:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lensliquid lensLiquidLensshape-shifting lensShape-shiftingLensuniversity of wisconsin-madisonUniversityOfWisconsin-madisonFri, 04 Aug 2006 05:47:00 EST