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}}}

Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

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}}}

Cool invention. The shaping of the lens is indeed found in many created kinds. Not sure on the chemical reactions, or electrical energy loss, being more advanced.

We are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand?Not so sure, we are limited in our ability to understand, by the lack of our willing-ness to ask.- The one who knows.

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}}}

quote:

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Muscle action is electrical

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Just a quick correction. Muscle contraction is driven by ATP, it is a chemical reaction. The contraction is stimulated by a release of ions from nerves. Although there is a voltage difference across the membrane, nerve impulses are actually driven by the release of positive ions as compared to electrical impulses which are travelling electrons. However, electrical currents can cause the release of these ions and mimic the effect of a nerve impulse. Just a pet peeve, but I hate it when people say that nerve impulses are electricity. If this were true then people would have to explain why nerve impulses only travel at 50-70 meters per second as compared to electricity which travels at 300,000,000 meters per second.

And you think this is bad? I had to try to convince a bunch of high schoolers that the idea behind the Matrix (the movie) regarding turning people into batteries is that the machines were interested in our body heat to use for some kind of chemical reaction. These kids really thought that the machines were actually using people's "electric currents" in their brains. They justified this by pointing out that the machines did not decide to use cows because cows are less intelligent, thus their brains create a lot less electricity.Regarding the body heat argument, you have to watch the animatrix: second renaisance to know what I'm talking about.

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The Laminator

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Pedant's note: actually electrical impulses are transmitted via electrical fields rather than by the motion of electrons.

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}}}

Todays trivia: suspended-oil lenses were actually the technology behind Luke Skywalkers binocular-type thingies in the first Star Wars film.

Todays trivia #2Read Dune.

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion

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}}}

Lost me there guy. ????????????

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Aslan is not a Tame Lion