Improving on nature ... by design ...

Improving on nature ... by design ...

Philips’ Fluid Lenses Bring Things into Focus (click for full article)

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The Philips FluidFocus lens consists of two immiscible (non-mixing) fluids of different refractive index (optical properties), one an electrically conducting aqueous solution and the other an electrically non-conducting oil, contained in a short tube with transparent end caps. The internal surfaces of the tube wall and one of its end caps are coated with a hydrophobic (water-repellent) coating that causes the aqueous solution to form itself into a hemispherical mass at the opposite end of the tube, where it acts as a spherically curved lens.The shape of the lens is adjusted by applying an electric field across the hydrophobic coating such that it becomes less hydrophobic — a process called ‘electrowetting’ that results from an electrically induced change in surface-tension. As a result of this change in surface-tension the aqueous solution begins to wet the sidewalls of the tube, altering the radius of curvature of the meniscus between the two fluids and hence the focal length of the lens. By increasing the applied electric field the surface of the initially convex lens can be made completely flat (no lens effect) or even concave. As a result it is possible to implement lenses that transition smoothly from being convergent to divergent and back again.

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Now that is not something that nature has evolved, but it is evidence of a good design.New style contacts soon? Telescopic eyes?Imagine people with damaged corneas able to focus light onto the parts that are still good and see a more complete picture ... ?Enjoy.This message has been edited by RAZD, 01-03-2005 20:11 AM

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
{{{Buddha walks off laughing with joy}}}

I was kinda thinking of ID ... heh. but this is cool.

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
{{{Buddha walks off laughing with joy}}}

that would depend on our ability to know it is okay to ask those that know, know what I mean?

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
{{{Buddha walks off laughing with joy}}}

Shaping the lens is done by constricting relaxing muscle around the lens, not by adding or removing liquid inside.Not an evolved method. Has greater range available ...Muscle action is electrical(fixed typo, time for bed ...)This message has been edited by RAZD, 06-29-2004 11:49 PM

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
{{{Buddha walks off laughing with joy}}}

exchange of ions is still electrical -- the attraction of the ions is driven by the different electrical charges.a reason I said electrical rather than electricity.curious that current is portrayed moving in the opposite direction to the flow of electrons, because ol' Ben thought it was the movement of positive particles ...

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
{{{Buddha walks off laughing with joy}}}

both of these are technologies hypothesized in science fiction and not natural organic developments.

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
{{{Buddha walks off laughing with joy}}}

I thought this topic would be posted to ID, being about eye design and how a technological design works compared to an organic one and that a comparative organic design has not been observed.greater range of focal ability with a techological design than exhibited in organic design -- which is intelligent?

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
{{{Buddha walks off laughing with joy}}}

but who knows which god knows? know what I mean?ps if you use the little red reply button at the bottom of a message the reply is linked to the message (and some people get an e-mail to tell them of the response). this makes debate easier.

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we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
{{{Buddha walks off laughing with joy}}}