this post was submitted on 22 May 2025
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397
Infrared contact lenses let you see in the dark (arstechnica.com)
submitted 1 day ago by will_a113@lemm.ee to c/technology@lemmy.world
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[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 10 points 16 hours ago* (last edited 16 hours ago) (2 children)

It also doesn't have any accuracy whatsoever. It only makes it possible to detect infrared, but not to see where it came from. And being opaque they make you blind when wearing the lenses.

[–] barsoap@lemm.ee 8 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

We already can detect direction of infrared radiation, it's called being warm on one side but not the other. Technically also possible by, say, lying half-way under a blanket and half-way not, but sensory integration takes care of the ambiguity.

More interestingly, did you know we can see the polarisation of light?

[–] Buffalox@lemmy.world 1 points 11 hours ago

No I did not know that. Interesting.

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl -5 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

Without even visiting the article I can say with full confidence these contact lenses will not be opaque.

EDIT: We really don't have to go beyond the conceptual stage.

  • transparent: clear, all light goes through
  • translucent: clouded, some light goes through
  • opaque: wall, no light goes through

Yes, this includes ultraviolet light. If a contact lens is opaque, it blocks all light from passing through the eye's lens and cornea. It will never reach the retina to even be recognized as on or off! No opaque contact lens will ever be used. Please tell me if I'm wrong...

[–] Jtotheb@lemmy.world 2 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

Yes, this includes ultraviolet light.

Why? Does it also include x-rays? That’s only one step further on the electromagnetic spectrum. Seems arbitrary to stop at ultraviolet waves! Does that mean thin sheets of steel aren’t opaque? Or is the term “opaque”, without any modifiers attached, colloquially used to describe whether something permits visible light through?

For the record, they’re not opaque. The original article actually says they work better if you close your eyes.

[–] Buddahriffic@lemmy.world 1 points 8 hours ago

Or with cosmic rays, not sure anything would be opaque.