DotLens Turns Your Smartphone Into a Picture Taking “Microscope” (VIDEO)

We’ve seen a multitude of new smartphone accessories lately, but the 3D­‑printed DotLens is definitely one of the more zany. This self-adhering “conversion” lens comes in three strengths: 15X, 30X and 60X—the later of which enables you to view objects as small as 1/10 the width of a human hair.

Made of a special optopolymer derived from natural rubber, the DotLens mounts to the lens of any smartphone or tablet camera without the need of glue or attachments—sort of like how a gecko sticks to the ceiling. And, yes, it can be as easily removed and reused over and over again.

The 15X, 30X and 60X lenses cost $12.99, 14.99 and $18.99 respectively, and you can get a set of all three for $39.99. The company is a student-run start-up founded through the Wolff Center for Entrepreneurship. The technology was invented by Wei-Chuan Shih, an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and his student Yu-Lung Sung who says the lenses “have a very high optical quality.”

Don’t sell your photomicroscopy gear just yet, but the DotLens sounds like it might be fun to play around with.

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