Electronic specs may be launched this year

US composite lens company PixelOptics has been joined by the Japanese firm Panasonic Shikoku Electronics in the development of its electronic eyewear.

Part of the Panasonic Corporation, Panasonic Shikoku Electronics is described as one of the developmental partners playing a major role in the creation of the changeable focus lenses. 'Pixel and Panasonic Shikoku Electronics have been jointly developing the first ophthalmic eyewear solution that crosses over into the consumer electronics sector,' said Bill Kokonaski, chief technology officer of Pixel.

Ronald Blum, president and chief executive officer of Pixel, said: 'Pixel's electronic eyeglasses auto-focus faster than the blink of an eye using chemistry, electricity and optics and do so without moving parts. These eyeglasses allow for clear focus from far to near and everything in between. They are lineless on the face of the wearer and provide significantly wider and less compromised fields of clear vision, having far less distortion than progressive addition lenses of an equal optical power.'