The beginning of the end for telescopes and binoculars?

[SteveNickolls]

Just came across this report on new technology providing magnified sight in the form of a contact lens, it's incredible what the future holds. Cheers, Steve http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/07/02/telescopic-contact-lenses_n_3532312.html?icid=maing-grid7%7Cuk%7Cdl5%7Csec3_lnk3%26pLid%3D191462

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

A contact lens can never replace a scope or binocular. It hasn't got the aperture for resolution and it hasn't got the aperture for photon gathering. The optics depicted might just increase the aperture by a few mm (which can be handy), to perhaps 0.5", but when was the last time you saw a scope of that diameter advertised?

[ronin]

From what I can read if I had good eyesight and no need of any form of correction I would have to start wearing contact lens and then to change between whatever the 2 modes of operation are I would have to put on or take off polarising glasses. And this would deliver 2.8x magnification.

I can pick up a set of binoculars and get 8x without inserting or wearing anything.

[tibbz2]

Interesting enough, but certainly not the end for telescopes/bins for the reasons mentioned!

[AndyWB]

Am I the only one imagining confused squaddies bewildered by their variable depth perception in combat?

Or possibly confused Irish priests?

"Now Dougal, these are very small, those are far way. No, wait..."

[Bart]

Handy at times though.

Wife to astronomer "are you out observing again?"

"No dear, just looking around with normal vision"

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Oh, and lest we forget: polarisation removes half the light at least. No problem in daytime, but not nice in twilight or at night

[Moonshane]

it would certainly help people on diets. your small plate of food would look huge and you'd be feeling full in no time.

[romi]

... seems promising...and no Polar Alignment needed ....

[Peter Drew]

The bottom will fall out of the carrot market.

[Naemeth]

If someone really wanted to they could make telescopic glasses. I doubt anyone would want to wear them though, as Michael points out the aperture is far too small to be useful for stargazing.

[SteveNickolls]

A link to the paper- http://www.opticsinfobase.org/oe/fulltext.cfm?uri=oe-21-13-15980&id=258366 Cheers, Steve

[Katen]

Although I wear glasses for reading, The thought of putting contacts in my eyes - is making me shiver just thinking about it Most definitely bins or scope for me always..

[Pig]

Do Televue do contact lenses

[Paranoidsam]

It's hard enough swapping eyepieces in the dark...!

[Stargazer_00]

can you imagine the clouds of people starting buying these?

[hwsoderlund]

I'm a little worried about collimation. Can you get Bob's Knobs for these?