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New glasses change color on command
Those super-dorky Transitions lenses that your dad wears might be on their way out thanks to a new tech developed by researchers at the University of Washington. The problem with Transitions is that they don't always fully change from clear to dark, especially if you aren't in bright light. Instead, you're stuck walking around with half-tinted glasses that make you look like a doofus.
These new shades, however, won't have that problem. Instead of relying on the brightness of the environment to dictate when they change, these glasses can change colors at the flip of a switch. No half-tint, no mess. It seems like a pretty sweet technology, but unfortunately it won't find its way into consumer sunglasses for some time. But when it does, I'm totally getting my dad a pair. You know how he hates to carry more than one pair of glasses around.
American Chemical Society, via NetworkWorld
By blueinferno at 10:52 AM ON 04/05/07
Can't wait till these actually become fashionable to wear. I think I'll have to wait for a long while though.
By Servelan at 5:00 PM ON 04/05/07
Obviously you haven't seen transitions in awhile. I've gotten 2 new pairs in the past few years and they make them in all lens sizes and they get pretty clear when you come inside (my newest pair are almost crystal clear) and they don't get too dark the way regular sunglasses do. I think this new thing might be good at some point but for now my transitions are fine. I've even been told that they are beautiful!
By mmyers46 at 8:36 PM ON 04/05/07
What's "dorky" about Transitions lenses? The fact that they darken proportionately to the brightness of the ambient light is a good thing. To my mind, the only thing wrong with Transitions lenses is that they don't get as dark in bright sunlight as single-purpose sunglasses.
I've always thought that stacked polarizing lenses would be a perfect setup. You'd simply rotate one of the lenses to achieve the level of darkness you want. The only problem with the idea is that the lenses would have to be round so that they could rotate on top of each other.
By ronzony at 2:23 AM ON 04/06/07
I think the technology is great. I've would like to see it applied to auto glass even better. I would buy the glasses though. I've thought of this many years ago,but lacked the chemistry knowledge. Good going to the researchers at University of Washington.
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ronzony:
I think the technology is great. I've would like to see it applied to auto glass even better. I would buy the glass...More »