[LRFlex] Wave of the future?

In the just-arrived issue of an electronics trade magazine is a report saying 
that scientists at Canada's Universite Laval have unveiled a lens that is 5 
times thinner than a piece of writing paper and which can zoom, without any 
mechanical parts.

It was created by adding a small quantity of photosensitive material to a 
liquid crystal cell. When an electrical current is applied, the crystals 
realign themselves differently, creating the lens.  While not yet ready for 
prime time, the lens can change from a focal length of 1.6 to 8 meters, in a 
few milliseconds, by changing the voltage from 1.5 to 4.5 volts.

A lens of this size is certainly more suited to a camera phone than anything 
else, and it's focal length is not yet suitable for any known format.  But 
there was a time when digital imaging, and pocketable cell phones were dreams, 
too.

Just thought you'd like to keep abreast of the news.

Cheers!

David Young,
Logan Lake, BC
CANADA.

Personal Web-site at: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt
Leica Reflex Forum web-page: http://www3.telus.net/~telyt/lrflex.htm

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