MIT’s Augmented Magnifier literally provides insight

A team at MIT’s Fluid Interfaces Group developed an augmented magnification device to rapidly detect information when solving cases. The exceptionally talented Anirudh Sharma and Pattie Maes worked together to find an amazing way to not just provide a way to simply magnify; they integrated the digital and optical system for researchers to perceive many layers of information. This invention will be important when investigators are solving mysteries or analyzing given data. On MIT’s webpage, the device is explained as a “magnifying glass + transparent display=augmented magnifier.” It is almost like Google Glass.

Like a magnifying glass, this augmented device enhances what you’re looking at by digitally showing up to 1000x magnification. What makes this magnification technology so innovative is that it provides internal information about the magnified subject.

This intelligent magnification device uses OpenCV (Open Source Computer Vision) to run effectively. There is also a front-facing RGB camera onboard to maneuver all OpenCV operations and a transparent display to pick up on whatever it is looking at. The device will also tell the user what the object at hand is and give scientific name. This gadget also explains the cellular structure molecular levels of what’s being optically magnified. It is constantly connected to the Internet for instant metadata and answers questions about the object. 

So far, Augmented Magnifier technology has primarily been used for analyzing fresh produce. This innovation can be used in the future to detect essentially the name and makeup of any structure.

Story via MIT