To a child with impaired vision, it might seem like
magic. You put on the glasses and turn a dial to adjust the lenses to correct
the particular refractive error in your own eyes. Voilà ! Instant prescription! Instant clear vision!
But it’s not magic. It’s photonics.
Specifically, these are “instant prescription eyewear”
using adaptive optics, techniques that correct optical signals within a
particular system.
Applications in astronomy provide a good illustration. Light
coming in from space to telescopes on Earth is distorted by particles and gases
in the atmosphere. Adaptive optics techniques make corrections in the final viewed image, based on analysis of what has caused the distortion, and render a clear
image of what’s out there.
Joshua Silver, CEO of the Centre for Vision in the
Developing World, and Dow Corning are working to bring adaptive-optics-based eyewear
to millions of people in the developing world who have no access to vision correction
services, through an initiative called Child ViSion.
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| A student at Bwindi Watoto School in Uganda wears Child ViSion's instant prescription eyewear. Photo courtesy Child ViSion. |
Child ViSion estimates that 60% of young people in the
developing world do not have the glasses that they need to be successful in
school. The program helps tackle poor vision by distributing self-adjustable
glasses, based on a fluid-filled lens technology, through school-based programs
in Africa.
Members of SPIE, the international society for optics and
photonics, and participants at the society’s recent Optics + Photonics meeting
in San Diego are helping, too -- to the tune of a $10,000 donation from the
society.
Child ViSion was one of three philanthropic projects that were up for a vote at the event and on the SPIE website, and was awarded the
top donation as a result of winning the most votes.
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| ALOP facilitators in Nepal, a recent workshop site. |
Teaching the teachers
Active Learning
in Optics and Photonics (ALOP) workshops introduce basic optics
and photonics concepts to teachers in developing countries, by pairing
theoretical modules with hands-on applications and using low-cost locally
available materials. Hundreds of teachers have been provided with training
manuals and materials to take back to their classrooms. This SPIE donation will
support teachers to attend an ALOP training in Colombia.
The trainers are dedicated volunteers, optics and
photonics professors from far-flung universities who travel the world with the
support of UNESCO, SPIE, ICTP (International Centre for Theoretical Physics) and other organizations, and continually demonstrate
their passion for sharing the possibilities for improving quality of life by using
scientific knowledge.
Fun with lasers
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| Hundreds of cheering students have it right: the Laser Roadshow is a great way to learn about optics. |
Prismatic Magic's Laser Roadshow brings engaging laser programs to
assemblies at schools with underserved populations across the United States,
combining science and laser education with music and a laser animation show.
The program’s mission is to enhance general awareness of how advances in optics
and photonics improve quality of life and to motivate students to explore
careers in optics and photonics.
Combined with educational and travel scholarships and
numerous other programs, SPIE provides more than $3.2 million in support of
optics and photonics education and outreach programs each year.
With the vote, the society aimed to increase awareness of
just how that money is allotted, and also to give the community a voice in
where the donations go.
Inspiring stories of photonics helping to make a better
world!
What a wonderful way of using science (photonics in particular) to benefit millions of students!
ReplyDeleteIf you are suffering from poor eyesight then wear eye glasses on a regular basis. It will help you correct your vision and then you can see without the need of eye glasses.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Arnold Brame
Health And Safety Consultant Peterborough