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Olympus 360 degree lens: promise of greater security?

Olympus' prototype of a 360 degree camera lens could lead to more compact security cameras in future.

As newspaper headlines worldwide carry distressing news about terroristism, this should sound heartening. Recently, Olympus announced the development of an “Axial symmetrical free curved surface lens”, which can reportedly gather light 360 degrees horizontally and 45 degrees vertically and focus it on a CCD without the use of other lenses. While only a prototype as of now, possible uses for the lens include security cameras… and extreme sports.

But aren't there 360 degree cameras and what's so special, you might ask. Well, the innovation here is that one lens does all the focusing, doing away with the need for extra lenses and allowing manufacturing of extremely compact devices. Which means, tighter vigil on those destructive elements without being obvious.