Optical Apps

[lensgrinder]

Forgive me, but what's the point of all this work?

For me, it is a release from work. Some people come home and bake, read a book, watch TV, etc. I like to code.
I started making small python apps which I used when grading tests for my Opticianry students. This saved me from doing the calculations all the time. Then I thought it would be good for my students to have a way to see the answer to a question so if they solved it incorrectly they would know as opposed to waiting until class.

Got it, but why all the phone apps? Do dispensers need it? Is it for the public?

I decided to create the iPhone app because my students said it would be great to have some of the calculations in the dipensary especially the thickness calculation and compensated power.
Now that I work for Zeiss and travel to different offices I have a lot of Opticians ask me about the app, because they liked using it.

[HarryChiling]

For me, it is a release from work. Some people come home and bake, read a book, watch TV, etc. I like to code.
I started making small python apps which I used when grading tests for my Opticianry students. This saved me from doing the calculations all the time. Then I thought it would be good for my students to have a way to see the answer to a question so if they solved it incorrectly they would know as opposed to waiting until class.




I decided to create the iPhone app because my students said it would be great to have some of the calculations in the dipensary especially the thickness calculation and compensated power.
Now that I work for Zeiss and travel to different offices I have a lot of Opticians ask me about the app, because they liked using it.

Brent,

Congrats on the gig, I heard news from Curt Duffy about the position. It's nice to hear you're doing well.

Are you programming in Objective C for the iPhone? Do you have a web wrapper style module you can incorporate HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and JQuery in? If so e-mail me and I can give you some really nice chunks of code that you could use.

[HarryChiling]

Got it, but why all the phone apps? Do dispensers need it? Is it for the public?

I can impress patients with apps because they want to see advanced tools being used for their advanced lenses. It's like a confirmation of their trust in you.

[Bok]

I can impress patients with apps because they want to see advanced tools being used for their advanced lenses. It's like a confirmation of their trust in you.

Harry, I have been working on a similar application but for PC your app looks great so far, keep up the hard work and would love to see the final product. your PD measurement looks interesting I had the same idea for mine but found inaccuracies with the measurements being taken due to distance from the camera lens at time of measurement.

for example, if I was 40cm away from the lens it would read accurate but if i was 90cm from the lens it would be .5 high on the reading, etc etc. would be cool to see it working successfully!

[HarryChiling]

Harry, I have been working on a similar application but for PC your app looks great so far, keep up the hard work and would love to see the final product. your PD measurement looks interesting I had the same idea for mine but found inaccuracies with the measurements being taken due to distance from the camera lens at time of measurement.

for example, if I was 40cm away from the lens it would read accurate but if i was 90cm from the lens it would be .5 high on the reading, etc etc. would be cool to see it working successfully!

You need a reference object in the scene on the same plane as the eye's for it to work. Most people use a credit card or loyalty card in the OTC apps, in the professional apps the reference oject is usually a clip that attaches to a frame.

[drk]

Honestly, are you guys going to sell this technology to onliners and try to make serious coin?

Honestly, now.

[lensgrinder]

Brent,

Congrats on the gig, I heard news from Curt Duffy about the position. It's nice to hear you're doing well.

Are you programming in Objective C for the iPhone? Do you have a web wrapper style module you can incorporate HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and JQuery in? If so e-mail me and I can give you some really nice chunks of code that you could use.

Thanks Harry. I hope you are doing well.

I start off rough drafting in Python. Mainly, because I can use my iPhone or iPad to code in Python.
I will then use Objective C once I get the logic straight.
I found web technologies slow when used as a wrapper and Objective C is easy to use, thanks for the offer though.

Honestly, are you guys going to sell this technology to onliners and try to make serious coin?

Honestly, now.

My apps are optical calculations that are intended to help the opticians either compute something quickly or show the patient the difference between a and b.

My apps would not be useful to onliners.

[HarryChiling]

Thanks Harry. I hope you are doing well.

I start off rough drafting in Python. Mainly, because I can use my iPhone or iPad to code in Python.
I will then use Objective C once I get the logic straight.
I found web technologies slow when used as a wrapper and Objective C is easy to use, thanks for the offer though.



My apps are optical calculations that are intended to help the opticians either compute something quickly or show the patient the difference between a and b.

My apps would not be useful to onliners.

I have a very similar work flow, Python is so approachable and I can program from a raspberry pi, android, to windows on it. I was going native java for apps but android will actually align a zip file to run super fast so the cross platform ability of web tech is a big draw to me. I use C but mainly for microcontroller programming atmel 328's and atmel tiny with avrdude. I have been contemplating building an edger as a project so I have put more time and effort into hardware design lately. Its nice hearing from you again Zeiss definately knows thier talent.

[ziggy]

The point is that together things can be accomplished to a greater degree then alone.

wise words

[lensgrinder]

I have a very similar work flow, Python is so approachable and I can program from a raspberry pi, android, to windows on it. I was going native java for apps but android will actually align a zip file to run super fast so the cross platform ability of web tech is a big draw to me. I use C but mainly for microcontroller programming atmel 328's and atmel tiny with avrdude. I have been contemplating building an edger as a project so I have put more time and effort into hardware design lately. Its nice hearing from you again Zeiss definately knows thier talent.

Good luck with the edger! Thanks for the kind words, it is always great hearing from you too.

[pseudonym]

I had to pull it because iOS 7 came out and I had no time to code what need to be coded.
I have started coding it again to revamp it for iOS 8. Like Harry has no desire to code for the iPhone, I have no desire to code for Android.
I don't want to give a date for the release, but it is getting closer.

Lost your app when I upgraded my i-phone. Please let us know when we can get it at the app store. This thing comes in very handy for the engineer and engineer-wannabe customer. Instant credibility.

[lensgrinder]

Lost your app when I upgraded my i-phone. Please let us know when we can get it at the app store. This thing comes in very handy for the engineer and engineer-wannabe customer. Instant credibility.

I am looking for beta testers running iOS 8. This version is optimized for iPhone 6 plus and all versions below that can install iOS 8 and iPad
I added the ability to view the formula worked out step by step and you can share a link to the formula
If you need to see what it looks like please go to http://brent.mccardle.me
Click on the link Optical Tool and then view more about Optical Tool to see screenshots.

If interested pm me your email address and I will add you to the beta. Once added you will receive an email from iTunes giving you instructions on how to install it.