Telescope mirrors of old basically came in one shape: they were round and fit nicely inside a tube. No longer. An emerging optics technology now allows these light-gathering devices to take almost any shape, potentially providing improved image quality over a larger field of view -- all in a smaller package.
Called freeform optics, this emerging mirror technology, brought about by advances in computer-controlled fabrication and testing, has triggered a sea change in optical engineering. Seeing the benefit of "potato chip-shape" or asymmetrical optics, NASA optical engineers at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, have moved quickly to establish an expertise in this emerging technology.
"The use of freeform optics can significantly reduce the package size as well as improve the image quality," said Joseph Howard, who is working with Goddard engineer Garrett West to ultimately design, integrate, and test a two-mirror freeform optical telescope for imaging and spectroscopic applications.
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-11/nsfc-owt110515.php
[Also Covered By]: PHYS.ORG
[Source]: NASA Goddard
(Score: 2) by Username on Friday November 06 2015, @06:59PM
Neato, but when will I getting glasses that let me see near and far? Get working on that NASA.
(Score: 2) by JoeMerchant on Friday November 06 2015, @07:02PM
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bionic-lenses-make-eyesight-3-times-better-20-20-could-eradicate-glasses-good-1502015 [ibtimes.co.uk]
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 2) by wonkey_monkey on Saturday November 07 2015, @11:22PM
Ocumetics Technology Corp claims the camera technology in the lens is able to produce three-dimensional visual landscapes in optical images that have been naturally formatted and with no time delay
What the hell does that mean?
The article reads like the author didn't know whether he was talking about a lens or a camera.
systemd is Roko's Basilisk