Entry Date:
April 16, 2014

Augmented Magnifier: Fusing Virtual and Optical Magnification Via Optical Magnifier


We explore the combination of two layers of information: digital and optical. The system preserves both the regular functionality of a magnifying glass and digital capability of transparent displays. Metaphorically, we could extend the magnification through the magnifying glass by digitally showing a 1000x magnification overlay and other metadata about the subject.
Interaction: The user sees the normal magnification through the system. The normal magnification is by the virtue of optical property of glass (lens). The magic happens when the system ALSO overlays the scientific name, common name, molecular level magnification in addition to the regular magnification.

Working: Technically the system works by a small front facing RGB camera, which runs object detection within openCV, detects the fruit and overlays its common name, scientific name and cell structure magnification onto the optical magnification.