The Mt. Lebanon-based company, Dynamic Eye, has spent the past seven years building sunglasses that come with one frame, two lenses -- and an algorithm that can outsmart the sun and identify where glare is strongest. People at Dynamic Eye say, they fight glare like no sunglasses have before.
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| Chris Mullin the founder and CEO of Dynamic Eye with a pair of Dynamic Eye prototypes |
Dynamic Eye frames have a built-in processing system that concentrates shade to portions of the lens hit hardest by the sun, allowing differing degrees of shade throughout the lens.
In its initial days, Dynamic Eye smart shades prototypes, were more like big wayfarers and looked like something made for science demonstration that accompanied a processing box of the size of a jewelry box. Since then, the technology has shrunk to fit a small box that fits in between the lenses of Oakley wraparounds and the shades themselves becoming more like conventional sunglasses.
How Dynamic Eye shades work:
Inside the processing box, a pinhole camera takes a picture of the frame's line of vision. From there, a small computer analyzes the image and scans it for glare that exceeds a threshold algorithm. It then directs extra pixels of shade to that portion of the lens.
The whole process takes about 100 milliseconds so as the direction of light changes, the darkening pixels instantly dance across the lenses like caffeinated Tetris shapes.
Since the prototypes were built with glass frames, most of the new funding Mr. Mullin is seeking will go toward developing the technology in plastic frames.
Where Dynamic Eye can be useful:
According to the start-up, its shades are particularly useful for glaucomic eyes sensitive to sunlight
(ultraviolet rays) and protecting Air Force pilots flying at high altitudes -- or helping commuters who always find the sun placed
just to the left of the car visor. The company has worked for seven years on the technology, but is just now kicking off a round of fundraising to launch a pilot round of consumer models and to replace the glasses with plastic. May Dynamic Eye get the money it needs, we will find smart glasses for more conventional uses too (Geeky uses
too).
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