Abstract

In the area of Photonics Research as to what can be achieved with Low Power Photonics Sources, such as a Class 2 HeNe Laser, a Laser Diode, or an ultra high intensity LED, the Photonics Academy at OpTIC possesses a highly impressive array of functional Prototype Designs. Each of these visually attractive Prototype Designs illustrates the Ingenuity in Design that has been achieved by students, in the range of 15 – 25 years of age, who have been engaged in personal opportunities to Investigate the potential application of Photonics concepts to, and within, a whole range of highly Innovative outcomes, that are clear demonstrations of many students’ individual Originality and Ingenuity in creating new ideas for the application of Low Power Photonics Concepts.

This Paper will highlight some of the highly Perceptive Prototype Design achievements of students in the application of Photonics principles, with these applications ranging from the Use of a Laser to identify the Letters of a Word in an ordinary book before translating them into Braille for a Visually Handicapped person, to the transmission of audio information over a distance; from a Book Page turning device for a paralysed person, to a pair of Laser Activated Mobile Feet; from a Mobile Guide Robot for a Blind person, to a five-Laser beam Combination Lock for a high Security application; from a Laser Birefringent Seismograph, to a Laser Speckle Activated Robotic Hand; and many, many more. All of the many functioning Prototype Design ideas that will be demonstrated have one characteristic that is common, namely, they are all designed with the intention to help improve the day-to-day experiences of other people, especially those who are impaired in some way. One of the most interesting challenges that can be presented to students is to apply Low Power Laser Photonics to help any visually impaired person within a whole range of activities, and several of the Prototype Designs will illustrate that particular type of student Ingenuity and Achievement via Perceptive Knowledge in Photonics.

© 2009 Optical Society of America