Dynamic Eye, a Mt. Lebanon startup, develops sunglasses that 'outsmart the sun'
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Chris Mullin with a pair of Dynamic Eye prototypes. -
In this series, the shifting pixel areas on the lenses of the Dynamic Eye glasses show how the frames' processing system responds to changes in the direction of glare. -
In this series, the shifting pixel areas on the lenses of the Dynamic Eye glasses show how the frames' processing system responds to changes in the direction of glare. -
In this series, the shifting pixel areas on the lenses of the Dynamic Eye glasses show how the frames' processing system responds to changes in the direction of glare.
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Many tech startups dream of being acquired by Google.
Dynamic Eye has its sights on Oakley.
The Mt. Lebanon-based company has spent the past seven years building sunglasses that come with one frame, two lenses -- and an algorithm that can outsmart the sun and identify where glare is strongest.
"We help fight glare like no sunglasses have before," said Chris Mullin, the company's founder and chief executive.
Dynamic Eye frames have a built-in processing system that concentrates shade to portions of the lens hit hardest by the sun, allowing differing degrees of shade throughout the lens.
You've heard of smart phones. These are smart shades.
The products at Dynamic Eye could be used for purposes like shielding glaucomic eyes from light rays and protecting Air Force pilots flying at high altitudes -- or helping commuters who always find the sun placed just to the left of the car visor.
The company has worked for seven years on the technology, but is just now kicking off a round of fundraising to launch a pilot round of consumer models.
The style of the glasses has certainly evolved with every prototype -- the first models were not built for fashion. Early versions look like oversized Wayfarers that come with wood, screws, an exposed circuit board and an attached computer processor the size of a jewelry box -- all adding up to an aesthetic somewhere between science fair creation and Lady Gaga prop.
Since then, the technology has shrunk to fit a small box that fits in between the lenses of Oakley wraparounds.
Inside the box, a pinhole camera takes a picture of the frame's line of vision. From there, a small computer analyzes the image and scans it for glare that exceeds a threshold algorithm. It then directs extra pixels of shade to that portion of the lens.
The whole process takes about 100 milliseconds so as the direction of light changes, the darkening pixels instantly dance across the lenses like caffeinated Tetris shapes.
First Published January 7, 2011 12:00 am
