Revolutionary glasses technology from Kassel receives millions of millions!

Revolutionary glasses technology from Kassel receives millions of millions!

Scientists from the University of Kassel have received significant support for the development of new, switchable glasses with darkening plastic glasses. These glasses are intended to revolutionize existing products such as interchangeable or photochrome glasses, which are often considered sluggish in their reaction, by enabling a faster change between light and dark conditions. According to the University of Kassel, however, this technology is characterized by a frequent shortcoming: the darkening is often too dark, which can affect the user experience. Kassel scientist therefore develop a solution with a large switching window that includes active or automatic controllability, stepless dimmability as well as design and 3D formability.

The research group, consisting of Christopher Johannes and Christian Kahl, prepared an application for the Exist research transfer project in the summer of 2024. This initiative is funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) and is the third of its kind at the University of Kassel. The requested funding will cover the personal and factual expenditure of the scientists over a period of 18 months. From May 2025 you will use an office space on the university's founding days, supported by the unique transfer incubator, who looks after the teams in the phase of ideas to the foundation.

technological foundations and challenges

Liquid crystals that are used in the planned technology can change their properties through external stimuli. This adaptive technology has continued to develop in recent years, with the first approaches being researched in the 1980s. Liquid crystal glasses offer innovative correction options and are particularly important for the increasingly affected population group from the age of 40. Progressive loss of nearby attitudes.

The aspects of the user experience and the challenges of the previous technologies illustrate the need for new solutions. Adaptive lenses, which change their focal length through external stimuli such as electrical voltage, could better meet user needs in the future. Models of companies such as Morrow Eyewear and Deep Optics show the potential of liquid crystal solutions as forward-looking alternative. For example, Morrow Eyewear successfully launched the "eProgessive" glasses, which can adapt their refractive power within 0.6 seconds and are equipped with outstanding technical properties.