Today, almost every one you meet has a camera, but did you know that there are cameras out there with the potential to do much more than take selfies. Here are three game-changing cameras that are currently changing the way we live …
- Combustion Imaging Cameras
These impressive pieces of kit are being used in industries throughout the world to improve safety in the work place. Boiler explosions are a major cause of injury and financial loss in the manufacturing industry; as such, it is essential that boilers are carefully inspected to ensure their safety and efficiency is maximised. Conventional boiler inspections involve turning the boiler off and manually inspecting it for signs of damage. The inspections often put stress on the boiler tubes and systems, potentially resulting in more problems. Furthermore, keeping the boilers turned off during the inspections means that problems which are only apparent when the boiler is in working order are missed resulting in potentially disastrous problems. Combustion imaging cameras are designed to withstand high temperatures and can be submerged into operational boilers to provide a real-time view of the inner workings of industrial boilers and furnaces. They conduct combustion analysis which provides information regarding various combustion indicators, including boiler temperature, chemical compound analysis, and boiler conditions. The information they provide allows industry bosses to more accurately determine the state of their boilers and avoid devastating disasters. These applications can also help improve the safety and efficiency of jet engines and car engines.
- Thermal Imaging Cameras
Unlike normal cameras, thermal imaging cameras use infrared light to provide an image. Today, thermal imaging cameras have a number of roles and applications; fire fighters are equipped with thermal imaging cameras than can be used to see through smoke and find missing individuals in an emergency situation. The cameras can also be used to identify invisible signs of fire and thereby play an important role in fire prevention. In engineering, the cameras can be used to easily identify machinery that is at risk of overheating to prevent hazards. The cameras can also be used in the home to improve insulation; the cameras main function is to identify heat, and they can therefore be employed to identify areas of the home through which heat is escaping.
- NIRF imaging
As the battle against cancer continues to be fought, new technologies are emerging to help in the fight against the killer disease. Every year, approximately 14 million people are diagnosed with cancer, and 7.6 million people sadly die as a result of the disease. Surgery is one of the most effective means of treating cancer in affected individuals. Surgeries typically involve removing malignant tissues from the body to treat the disease at its source. Unfortunately, the success rate of cancer surgery is often undermined by surgeons’ inability to identify the margins of cancer cells; this means that some cancer cells remain in the body after surgery, reducing the patient’s chance of a complete recovery. NIRF imaging is a hi-tech means of enabling surgeons to more clearly identify the boundaries between cancer cells and normal cells. Cameras are also being developed which allow doctors to identify cancer cells more easily.
