Tech | July 12, 2009 | 1 comment

Fiber Fabric Could Create Whole-Body Cameras

Image
DeliaTheArtist
"Flexible translucent fibers woven into a fabric can capture light and turn it into images without a camera lens, researchers announced this week.

Scientists say the optoelectronic fiber could lead to bizarre new imaging products like a wall-sized, all-seeing camera or a soldier's uniform that captures 360-degree views.

"Fabric composed of these fibers could be joined to a computer that could provide information on a small display screen attached to a visor, providing the soldier greater awareness of his surroundings," according to a statement from MIT, where the breakthrough was made.

"This is the first time that anybody has demonstrated that a single plane of fibers, or 'fabric,' can collect images just like a camera but without a lens," said MIT material science professor Yoel Fink. "This work constitutes a new approach to vision and imaging."

"We are saying, 'instead of a tiny, sensitive object [for capturing images], let's construct a large, distributed system,'" Fink said. "While the current version of these fabrics can only image nearby objects, it can still see much farther than most shirts can."
  1. groups:
    Community,   Tech,   Art and Style,   Science,   1 more
  2. tags:
    News Art and Style Tech Science 2 more
  3.     
    |

1 comment // Fiber Fabric Could Create Whole-Body Cameras

more from Tech:

top videos