Now this is certainly something that spills out from the realm of science fiction, as though you would be able to see it from the HUD of Iron Man or something. I am referring to a compact hyperspectral imaging camera that is currently in the works by scientific teams over at Tel Aviv University. Hyperspectral imaging would involve the scanning of light spectra that is not visible to the naked eye, and by doing so, it will be able to identify the unique electromagnetic “fingerprints” that all substances carry.
The idea is not a new one, as it is achievable via larger sized cameras, but the team led by Tel Aviv’s Prof. David Mendlovic intends to break new barriers by working on a far smaller optical component which could, theoretically speaking, be integrated into a smartphone some time down the road. This is made possible thanks to MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) technology, where it claims to be “suitable for mass production and compatible with standard smartphone camera designs.”
Of course, the hardware alone is not enough to get the job done, since it will need to be connected to a database that carries the different substances’ hyperspectral signatures. A working prototype is said to be in the works already, and it should be up and running some time later this June. I wonder what this technology will show when you shoot a photo of a Big Mac. [Press Release]
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