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MIT developing fabrics capable of taking pictures
What you see there is a cross-section of an "optoelectronic" fiber. It's a light-sensing strand MIT is developing that it says could capture an image. Led by Associate Professor Yoel Fink of MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the research is still far from yielding any real-world applications, but the project just hit a milestone, namely using the fabric to take a rough snap of a smiley face.
In the future, the group can see the fibers used in multiple ways, including being weaved into a soldier's garment. Since the fibers can capture an image, he could observe his surroundings through a heads-up camera feed instead of having to swivel around.
The fibers also one-up cameras as they have the potential to be far more durable. "We are saying, 'instead of a tiny, sensitive object [for capturing images], let's construct a large, distributed system,'" Fink told MIT News, "While the current version of these fabrics can only image nearby objects, it can still see much farther than most shirts can."
Well, sci-fi-ish project or not, he's got a point there.
Via MIT News, via GizmoWatch
By Conner at 4:18 PM ON 07/12/09
So, theoretically my underwear could be constantly taking pictures of my hoo-hoo? Death to Smoochie.
By EternalChimera at 5:01 AM ON 07/13/09
Yes I sence an increase in panty raids...
By joed2024 at 4:19 PM ON 07/13/09
Sounds like a good start to activee camoflage with OLED's and fiber based camera woven together. Still have a thermal image though.
By Azraiel at 6:14 AM ON 07/15/09
Ok now what in the hell is going on up at m.i.t
that they actually want to have photo optic fiber. looks like they have been cross reserching with the botany deparment again "cough"
By Azraiel at 6:15 AM ON 07/15/09
Ok now what in the hell is going on up at m.i.t
that they actually want to have photo optic fiber. looks like they have been cross reserching with the botany deparment again "cough"
By rain at 6:08 AM ON 07/27/09
@Joed2024
but what if they also wove into it the IR reduction by using materials similar to the skins of the F117 stealth fighter?
By NAME at 2:27 PM ON 11/10/09
Hmm, indeed it could be used for some form of camoflage. As your walking down some street, you stop and your clothes take a picture of your surroundings and put it on your clothes. Insto Camo.
on your cellphone!
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Hmm, indeed it could be used for some form of camoflage. As your walking down some street, you stop and your clothe...More »