This iPhone Camera Can See What You Can’t

This iPhone Camera Can See What You Can’t

Researchers from VTT technical research center, Finland have developed new mobile technology that can help smartphones to detect skin cancer or can even tell you whether your leftovers foods are still edible.

The researchers from VTT Technical Research center are calling the technology as “the world’s first hyperspectral mobile device”. They had converted an iPhone camera into a new kind of optical sensor.

The researchers claimed that the technology could bring new possibilities of low-cost spectral imaging to consumer applications. Although, hyperspectral cameras provide access to the optical spectrum at each point of an image and are used for medical, industrial, space and environmental sensing but it was traditionally expensive.

Researchers have incorporated a cost-effective MEMS (Micro Opto Electro Mechanical Systems) chip into the lens of an iPhone camera through which it brings the new possibilities of low-cost spectral imaging to consumer applications.

Anna Rissanen from VTT said “Consumer benefits could appear in health applications, such as mobile phones that are able to check whether moles are malignant or food is edible. They could also verify product authenticity or identify users based on biometric data. On the other hand, driverless cars could sense and identify environmental features based on the representation of the full optical spectrum at each point of an image”

The official website of VTT research center claims “TT has already developed a wide range of new applications for the innovative hyperspectral cameras. These include the diagnosis of skin cancer, environmental sensing based on nanosatellites, various drone applications for precision agriculture and forest monitoring, and projects underway for the remote measurement of vessel emissions.”

Anna Rissanen also said “Today’s smart devices provide huge opportunities for the processing of image data and various cloud services based on spectral data. Mass-produced sensor technology will enable the introduction of hyperspectral imaging in a range of devices in which low-cost camera sensors are currently used”

Researchers are right now hoping to cooperate with companies to commercialize this technology and bring new products to the market. So, what do you think about this technology? Share your views in the comment section below.