Cheap Fast Eyeglasses from a Desktop Fabricator 279
purduephotog writes "Doctoral candidate Saul Griffith of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and inventor of the Lego powered chocolate printer was awarded the Lemelson-MIT Student Prize for inventing a device that molds eyeglasses rapidly and cheaply. Best of all, he's motivated for the good of humanity."
Making a difference (Score:5, Insightful)
This is the really interesting scientific angle of his work, and based on this, I would say that this small $30k prize is only the beginning for this guy. This approach demonstrates a unique perspective to problem solving that shows how innovative folks like Saul are. But perhaps more importantly for the future of science, science education, and the overall good, he has a social conscience that allowed him to identify a problem that affects people worldwide and has found an innovative solution that does what we all should aspire to do: Make a difference.
And he also makes the rest of us scientists look good.
Good on you Saul.
Companion Program for eyeware perscriptions (Score:5, Interesting)
Since with high resolution monitors and 256 (or more)levels of gray available, it should be possible to create an 'eye chart' that looks bleary and out-of-focus to a normally-sighted person but sharp and clearly-focused to someone with deformed vision.
I imagine a program where the user can adjust the software implementations (precise changes on the screen regards to the blurring of the chart characters that mimic the effect of an individual lens) of the various corrective lens stages of an eye exam. When the user is seeing clear and focused characters on the eye chart, the program would know from the distortions of the normal chart needed to create this clarity exactly what the eyeware prescription would need to be for this individual user.
The user could send the eyeglass perscription to a off-shore eyeware maker and get perscription glasses made at a tiny fraction of inflated American prices. Or order the glasses made by the method developed by the subject of this article.
Re:Companion Program for eyeware perscriptions (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Companion Program for eyeware perscriptions (Score:3, Insightful)
This will not work - a patient with poor eyesight will see everything on the monitor with greater bluuriness than a person with perfect sight.
Re:Companion Program for eyeware perscriptions (Score:5, Informative)
If what you propose were possible, it would be possible to fix the focus on an out-of-focus picture; after all, a camera with the focus set too close is exactly the same as a near-sighted person.
You could put a lens in front of the monitor to blur it optically in the right way so that the person with blurry vision would see clearly. Move same lens closer to patient, and it's their glasses. Obviously, we've had this technology for a LONG time...
It's possible that holographic displays, if they existed in the real world, could do this.
Re:Companion Program for eyeware perscriptions (Score:5, Informative)
You can deblur to some extent. However it is an ill-posed problem: Roughly speaking, in one dimension for simplicity, if you blur by a point spread function h(x), this is convolution of your original image f(x) to get a blurred image g(x):
g(x)=h(x)*f(x)
where "*" is convolution. If you take Fourier transforms, convolution becomes multiplication and
G(w)=H(w)F(w)
has zeros in the frequency domain and if you try to divide by H(w) to invert the blurring
F(w)=G(w)/H(w)
Then H(w_0)=0 for some frequency w_0 (actually many frequencies) and you are dividing by zero when computing F(w_0). This magnifies any non-blurring related noise or error in G(w) (which is always present) and you get garbage back. Practical deblurring schemes like Wiener filtering, Tikhonov regularization and total variation regularization effectively limit the component of the reconstructed F(w) at or near those frequencies. Thus some information is lost: you don't even try to get F(w_0) right. But the effect can still be quite good. Typically this results in a less blurry image with less sharp edges. I don't think you could do this sort of regularization with a lens, but I could be wrong.
Some pretty pictures and comparisons of various algorithms can be found at Deblurring [berkeley.edu]
Re:BUT WILL IT INCREASE THE LENGTH OF MY PENIS? (Score:5, Funny)
In two years time ... (Score:5, Funny)
He would need to invent transparent chocolate firs (Score:5, Funny)
Re:He would need to invent transparent chocolate f (Score:2, Informative)
Isn't that aluminum oxide [designinsite.dk] commonly called alumina?
Nope... (Score:2)
The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:5, Insightful)
Imagine downloading and printing a new bowl for your food processor, or a new toy for your kid.
Imagine, too, the anguished hand-wringing of corporations over the illegal distribution of copyrighted object designs over the Internet.
Imagine, too, the anguished hand-wringing of governments when the technology reaches a point where you can print parts for an AK-47.
My bet is it's going to be quite the roller-coaster ride when it gets here, and that it's closer than we think...
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:5, Funny)
Well, shit. There go my plans for a straw-fueled desktop fabricator.
If only there were some cheap, readily available metal...or perhaps a resin of some kind that wouldn't force me to mortgage my mom's basement...hell, I'd even settle for some kind of plastic that I can get my hands on for less than fifty thousand dollars an ounce.
Think, dammit, think...
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:5, Informative)
3D Printers [manufacturingtalk.com]
After all, laser printers used to be incredibly expensive, but they have become inexpensive enough that if someone NEEDS one at home, they CAN afford one. Alternatively, in jet technology has brought down the price to high quality low volume printing at home. The same will happen with 3D printers. Especially, if you think about all of the packing foam and other recycleable materials we throw away right now. It really would be the ultimate in recycling.
Now all we need to do is make sure that Linux can support them. I used to say that Linux developers should be focused on alternative human interface devices, I will now add alternative/new output devices. If we have support for them before anyone else does, that's yet another "killer app" for Linux. ;)
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:2, Funny)
I don't know if you're being serious, sarcastic, or what.
What was the first "Killer App" for Linux?
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:2, Insightful)
wedding:marriage::funeral:death
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:3, Insightful)
But they rely on the properties of a liquid goo turning to a solid when hit with UV lased light.
They can make three dimensional objects by simply lowering the object into the goo and adding more layers.
But you are still left with an OBJECT MADE OF THE HARDENED GOO. Great, it breaks, it's toxic, has no heat tolerance, and needs to be smoothed and screw holes tapped in it.
It's a great tool for manufacturers and those that develop machines and parts and stuff.
To make a USEFUL part ou
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:3, Interesting)
My guess is that they'll develop a 2 stage process. The first stage will be like what we have now. Then some sort of baking or che
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:4, Informative)
The reason the AK-47 is the most common assault weapon in history is precisely that the design was made simple enough that they can be mass produced with very little in the way of machining experience. Forget printing, most of the parts in an AK-47 are stamped.
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:4, Insightful)
Now, if we reach the point where John Q. Malcontent can download and print the various parts of an AK-47 in the comfort of his own studio apartment in a matter of hours...
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:3, Funny)
Don't worry. Photoshop will pop up an error dialog if you try to print something it thinks is a weapon part.
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:3, Informative)
In any case, while the current round of technology isn't anywhere near being able to fabricate the parts for an AK-47, I can't say I'd be surprised if the technology reached this point during my lifetime...
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:5, Funny)
Yeah, and imagine your child's disappointment when she can't have a new bike because there are no Linux drivers.
Matthew
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:5, Funny)
When the printing of guns is outlawed, only outlaws will be able to print guns.
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:5, Insightful)
A desktop robot that can mould and carve soft plastic is one thing, but machining a gun barrel from iron alloy is another. It's much harder in both senses.
And unless you want to design a desktop iron smelter, you'd also need to give it just the right lump of metal alloy.
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:2)
That said, they're already working on prototypes capable of printing highly durable ceramic parts for vehicles. [anl.gov] Yes, it's a young, expensive technology, but it doesn't take too much imagination to see what it could lead to.
Consider, too, that the advent of ceramics-based firearms would render many weapon detection systems obsolete...
Imagine the price of the ink! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:2)
Re:The Home-Insudtrial Revolution? (Score:3, Interesting)
Please don't make me imagine that. My boy already has way too many toys as it is without being able to print more. Every floor in the house is covered with little bits and pieces or puzzles, blocks, etc.
What I'd rather have is a Mr. Fusion on my desktop where I can drop whatever annoying electronic toy of the week he's playing with and recover some of the energy that went into making it.
Does he do it... (Score:5, Funny)
Better (Score:5, Informative)
He does it in about 5-10 minutes.
FTA:
Lenscrafters takes 5-10 minutes too (Score:3)
One-hour labs carry a huge stock of pre-ground, polished and coated single-vision lens blanks around 75mm in diameter. All the lab techs have to do is edge the lens so it fits the frame of your choice.
I wa
Fool (Score:2, Interesting)
I'm sure he'll be overjoyed when he graduates, finds himself unemployed and realizes just how much money he could have made and helped the world by patenting his invention and licensing it out.
Who's the fool? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Who's the fool? (Score:2)
Re:Fool (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Fool (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Fool (Score:2, Funny)
thank god (Score:5, Funny)
thanks to this man, I will now be able to see better, faster and cheaper!
Re:thank god (Score:2)
Looks like you're going to have to switch lubricants too...
-B
I predict... (Score:5, Interesting)
I see these popping up all over the place, like the "check your blood pressure here" devices.
If it means that more people who can't afford vision correction can get glasses, whether in a poor country or not, I'm all for it.
Who can't afford vission correction? (Score:5, Interesting)
But seriously this guy made two wonderfull inventions. They now collect "old" glasses to send to third world but this is a logistics nightmare.
Imagine a simple jeep outfitted with these inventions doing the rounds in poor areas. Put the tester on and voila few minutes later a pair of glasses. 1 day per village. Couple of jeeps. Shouldn't take long at all (after all it is not like glasses need to replaced that often, even in the west once a year is good enough even for still growing kids).
As far as I know it ain't the material that is costly in glasses but the whole distribution process. Plenty of bargain chains around that can offer really really cheap glasses due to scale and not offering specialist lenses. This looks even cheaper for hard to reach areas.
Brilliant.
Re:I predict... (Score:2)
Laser vision correction is only viable for a certain subset of lens-correctable conditions, and isn't a good idea if your vision problem isn't static, i.e. you need a different prescription every couple years. Then there's those who don't feel glasses are so bad that they should risk eye surgery to get rid of them
"afford" isn't really the issue for most people.
Re:I predict... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I predict... (Score:3, Interesting)
At least Iknow that in France the government gives you money (not all the money you need but still) when you buy new eye-correction glasses, both for the glasses and the visit to the doctor to get a prescription.
It's very expensive for the government and this device could help lower the bill so the spending could be used somewhere else.
Very good stuff and interesting possibilities here.
Re:More unemployed (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I predict... (Score:5, Informative)
From the article:
"But efficient lens manufacturing is only half the issue. Proper diagnosis of vision problems is the other half. Current automatic diagnostic technologies are expensive, fragile and error-prone. Because they rely on a patient looking at electronically generated images a few inches away from his or her face, they can lead to incorrect diagnoses. Plus, highly skilled people are required to operate these machines.
To resolve this problem, Griffith has created a prototype device to test the human eye. Patients need only wear the device, which looks like an oversized pair of goggles, and look at the world around them. An electronic sensor superimposed on the goggles monitors the lens in the wearer's eye and adjusts the device's lens to cancel the refractive errors, thus determining the correct prescription.
"
Re:I predict... (Score:4, Interesting)
To me, this seems at least as interesting as being able to actually manufacture eyeglasses. I mean, that's great, but cheap and quick fabrication is
zach
Well... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Well... (Score:5, Interesting)
And so work began.... (Score:3, Funny)
Doll face? (Score:5, Funny)
Get the Real Doll [realdoll.com] [NSFW] people on the phone, stat!
Automatic vision testers! hooray! (Score:5, Interesting)
I'm all for automatic vision testing, I feel like my current prescription was issued by a talentless hack.
Automatically testing vision and cranking out lenses is sweet. Next they just need to fire on an AR coating and everyone is good to go.
Re:Automatic vision testers! hooray! (Score:2, Funny)
Are you sure you wern't abducted by aliens? Check the back of your neck for implants, and your ass for an antenna. Sure signs.
Re:Automatic vision testers! hooray! (Score:5, Insightful)
Also I'm not sure the machines work on determining astigmatism.
Re:Automatic vision testers! hooray! (Score:2)
Still need to see the doctor though (Score:3, Interesting)
Yeah, all the eye tests I've had in the last few years have started with the machine. I'm told that some places just use the machine, but I've never seen one and I wouldn't go to one.
I go to the eye doctor to have my eyes checked. This is more than just get the correct glasses. The doctor needs to look in my eye and make sure that all the pieces are still in place.
I've heard of several different problems that need to be checked for once in a while. They all have complex medical names that I haven't
Like the idea of the eye test goggles (Score:5, Interesting)
This sounded like even cooler tech to me. I like the idea of something that takes away the subjectivness of the traditional exam for a prescription. He could even throw a glaucoma tester into the goggles.
Re:Like the idea of the eye test goggles (Score:5, Interesting)
Ah, the subjective eye exam... (Score:2)
"Um..."
Re:Like the idea of the eye test goggles (Score:3, Informative)
Ah crap... (Score:3, Funny)
"motivated for the good of humanity." (Score:4, Insightful)
and this folks is what being a real team player is all about, in society where we tell our children that greed and selfishness is bad yet buisnesses teach us the exact opposite , that greed is good and if you are not making 500$ a second profit you are failing, these sorts of things dont come round enough, ask yourself why are you here ? to be a wage slave or to make a real difference to peoples lives
A>S
Implications beyond eyeglasses (Score:5, Interesting)
While not a big deal to major corporations who don't balk at shelling out $20 a lens for custom work, for academic projects and independant research, that is a significant chunk of the cost of our prototype, considering the ease and realtive low cost involved in obtaining a microcontroller these days.
I imagine that, since he can make eye glasses, producing DCX, PCX, DCV, and PCV lenses would be easy too. I'd love to see this kind of machine available at academic institutions for producing parts for research.
If only... (Score:2)
Re:If only... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:If only... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:If only... (Score:2)
Re:Anthem (Score:2, Interesting)
More power! (Score:5, Funny)
I skimmed the paper, searched for Lego, and as it turns out he's really not uses Legos to power his system. It's merely built out of Legos. I'm disappointed...I thought he developed some sort of fusion generator, a la Back to the Future. Add a flux capacitor and a DeLorean and then I'll really be impressed.
Re:More power! (Score:2)
inventor of the Lego powered chocolate printer
I skimmed the paper, searched for Lego, and as it turns out he's really not uses Legos to power his system. It's merely built out of Legos.
...And I thought the printer was made out of chocolate.
What disappointments!
simplifying sight (Score:3, Interesting)
The real cost of glasses? (Score:5, Insightful)
Are frames really that complex and hard to make or is there a lack of competition in the marketplace?
Re:The real cost of glasses? (Score:4, Funny)
I know the average geek can't appreciate fashion. And rightly so. But we have to deal with it.
No lack of scale and logistics (Score:5, Interesting)
In more upbeat stores frames are closer to designer clothing. You pay because the costs of designing a new model is only spread over a few models. Ford Focus costs less then say the latest ferrari and that ain't just the cost of manufacturing.
But yes for those in need a single frame design in a couple of sizes (for different size heads) is not that expensive. Just ask any army that used to issue soldiers with glasses. Or for that matter look at the cost of sunglasses.
Re:No lack of scale and logistics (Score:3, Funny)
Re:The real cost of glasses? (Score:2, Informative)
Sometimes the lens themselves can be expensive if you have a weird prescription. There are also premiums charged for high-refractive lens (so you avoid the coke-bottle look), scratch resistance, tinting, etc.. These can add $200 to the cost of the lens depen
Re:The real cost of glasses? (Score:3, Interesting)
I don't need or want the very latest style, but I do want a pair of glasses that fits, provides a decent field of corrected vision, flatters my face, *and* is comfortable and durable. This runs me a couple hundred bucks, but glasses are something I wear all day every day
Re:The real cost of glasses? (Score:3, Interesting)
They must not have ghod-awful prescriptions like mine then. The lenses are still the most costly part of my eyeglass purchases.
That having been said, I have to ask the same question: Why do frames cost so much? I see non-prescription sunglasses at convenience stores -- with frames not too different from what I'd want for daily-wear glasses -- that cost less than US$20. But ju
More Wishes! (Score:4, Funny)
Mmm.... Recursion...
Eye Doctors becomming obsolete (Score:4, Insightful)
Could this be the writing on the wall for any similar "traditionally" professional occupations. If this is the case for eye doctors, which I'm sure didn't "SEE" this coming, I wonder what's next. Could there be a machine that analyzes your blood and prescribes through a vending machine your prescription?
OR... could I be thinking the insane thinking that many slashdotters and other people do when this type of thing is first invented.
Remember that cars were going to fly long before the year 2000.
Re:Eye Doctors becomming obsolete (Score:4, Insightful)
Comparing this with bloodpressure devices is silly. Any data about a specific measurement of a condition in the body has to be assessed along with other contextual data (other symptoms or lack thereof) to determine if there's a problem.
So, until you can have a machine that can read all possible physical data outputs from a person's body, and analyse in real time all possible medical problems based on those measurements, I doubt doctors of any field will become obsolete.
This guy also makes other stuff (Score:4, Informative)
Here's his first glasses prototype! [mit.edu] Welcome back to the eighties! ;)
Wrong kind of idealism (Score:4, Insightful)
I "like" how the story posters of slashdot are blinded by these bland phrases like "good of humanity". What exactly does that mean here? Is he giving it away for free? No, but it will be cheap. Is he opening the IP up? No, it's patent pending. In fact he's begining to sound like a (*gasp*) capitalist! And we all know they been knocked around here enough to be demonized. But unsuprisingly when a capitalist helps the poor by helping himself he's a put up on a pedastal as the savior of humanity, but if he helps himself by helping the rich or even just the middle class he's deridded as a scum sucking bottom feeder business man. Why the double standard, slashdot? Why? Is it because the motives seem more pure or somehow more righteous? That perhaps, because poor people get the short end of the stick all over the world that they don't just need help, but somehow deserve it too? That we are compelled to serve them? And when we don't feel compelled by this directive we've somehow failed at an obvious yet never stated goal of life?
What this guy has done is great, not because it will help poor people but because he's been extremely clever. I hope he makes an assload of money. Of course once he does make a reasonable sum, some people will complain that his motives aren't pure anymore. One can only hope they can synthesize becoming rich and helping poor people in the same thought.
Re:Wrong kind of idealism (Score:3, Insightful)
The difference (Score:4, Insightful)
This guy is great because, while he will be trying to make some money (guy's gotta eat, you know), he engineered a solution for a problem everyone overlooked because despite the potential for improving a great number of people's quality of life, the potential profit margin was too low.
Personally, I think he needs to package this system up and sell it and supplies to the four-eyed with money first. I'd like to be able to print out new lenses whenever I wanted, and if his process really is so much better, it would be cheaper than buying every couple of years from my optometrist.
Re:Wrong kind of idealism (Score:3, Insightful)
It's awfully cynical to suggest that "good of humanity" and the slightest wiff of "capitalism" be so diametrically opposed. Abusive capitalism can always be a problem, but as it exists here, there's nothing to suggest that it's the least bit abusive. The business venture side of this project (http:/
Patenting it IS "opening the IP up" (Score:5, Informative)
Not "opening the IP up" would be manufacturing a "black box" that creates eyeglasses that cannot be opened or studied in any way, at least not without the lawyers/hit squad coming after you. The inventor would still have exclusive control over the rights to manufacture it, but no other person would be able to study it in any way.
Re:Wrong kind of idealism (Score:5, Insightful)
I think you may be missing the point. It's good to help people. It's very good to make money by helping people. This is what's called Right Livelihood [beyondthenet.net] in Buddhism. It's one of the components of the Noble Eightfold Path.
I don't think most Slashdotters have anything against a free market. I certainly don't. What I do object to, however, are business models that rely on distortions of the free market: state-enforced private monopolies in land, raw materials, and information; the externalization of the costs of production (e.g., pollution, paying less than a living wage so that the state is forced to step in to prevent poverty, not paying health care so that the cost of the uninsured is pushed off on the state and on hospitals), the exploitation of workers (as above, but also lockouts, the use of private or state violence to break strikes, company towns, slavery, etc.), and the use of deceptive marketing to avoid the free-market ideal of a fully-informed consumer. All of these things are part of capitalism, but they're not part of a free market. Rather, they are deviations from a free market that benefit the class of people that already own property. For a look at what a real free market would look like, read up on Mutualism [mutualist.org].
What's good about this story is that the business plan uses a real free-market solution to do well by doing good. Not only should it dramatically reduce the cost of glasses in underserved parts of the world, it will also provide "micro-entrepeneurs" [lowcosteyeglasses.net] in poor areas to make a living while doing so. When done properly, a free market can benefit everyone. However, the non-free market we call corporate capitalism doesn't do this.
How long before... (Score:3, Funny)
Obligatory Stephenson (Score:4, Interesting)
automatic presciption finder. (Score:3)
At last something can put on your face and a few minutes later have a correct setting for the lens you need.
I'm sure all the opticians/optomatrists will be sad to loose they jobs (or at least part of the job) to and automated system
The fact it then goes off and quickly makes the lens is purely a plus point in my view.
History (Score:5, Interesting)
Think about the millions of people who were functionally blind, and could not afford glasses due to this trade secret.
And now - due to openness of the technique, and this new technology, optical health insurance (and the incredibly obnoxious markups on lenses and frames that came with it) may no longer be necessary. Let's hope so.
about $25 a pair in my area (Score:3, Informative)
Just what keratoconus sufferers are looking for? (Score:3, Interesting)
No pun intended.
I have keratoconus (basically a deformity in the cornea) and some days I can see fine and some days things are a little blury. The only solutions are either rigid contact lenses (ick) or cornea replacement surgery (double ick). Glasses aren't much of a solution for me because my eyes shift so much that a prescription would maybe last a month or two at most.
Maybe with this device I could cheaply fab lenses that would work for me until my eyes morph again. And then all I'd need to do is fab another pair.
Automatic eye testing (Score:5, Informative)
It's too bad the original article doesn't say anything about how he makes lenses.
The current trick in low-cost eyeglass distribution for the third world is simply to use a kit of low-cost preformed round plastic lenses. Basic eyeglasses have a spherical component, a cylindrical component, and an axis for the cylindrical component. The lenses are round, and can snap into the frames at different rotations, the number of different lenses needed goes down to a hundred or so. And the whole kit fits in a briefcase.
Re:such a shame (Score:3, Insightful)
As opposed to, say, commercial stuff like Irix, which are
S