It may sound like science fiction, but smartphone cameras that can take pictures of the veins underneath your skin just got one step closer. Researchers at the University of Washington and Microsoft Research have developed a camera that uses hyperspectral imaging to capture images at visible and invisible wavelengths, before combining them together to reveal otherwise-hidden details like veins under skin. The research outlines a solution that could potentially cost just $50 to add to a smartphone.
“HyperCam,” as it is known, can even show if a piece of fruit is ripe. The team took images of various fruits, from avocados to strawberries, over a week. The resulting images helped the team predict the ripeness of the fruit 94 percent of the time. With a standard camera, the team was only able to get it right 62 percent of the time.
