VEDANSHI FADIA - History of design : spectacles
History Of Design : SPECTACLES
Glasses are such an everyday part of our life that sometimes we forgot about how it came to its existence and how it became so obvious to people. Glasses are a tool that provides vision to most people, regardless of prescription or eye shape. The development of glasses are as common as treatment for imperfect eyesight took centuries, with many brilliant innovators paving path to the perfect vision we get today.
The first inventor of wearable glasses is unknown. However, the romans first discovered the ability to see small text, creating small magnifying glasses with spheres. Around 1000AD, the first vision aid was invented called a reading stone.
In the 13th century, Italian glass blowers creating stones with a frame made of wood or horn similar to that of magnifying glass so it is more convenient to use and it was mostly used by monks. Artwork remains the best testament that these glasses existed, as early Renaissance paintings sometimes depict scholars using handheld frames. Around 1284, a man named Salvino D'Armate is known to have created the first wearable eyeglasses.
The technology of spectacles remained stagnant for almost six centuries because the next clear historical picture of spectacles come during 1700s that is almost 18th century. In 18th century there was a jump and progress in craftmanship and awakened the idea of frame fitting and temples to extend over ears. The most famous modern glasses include "Martin's Margins," spectacles developed by the inventor Benjamin Martin. Martin believed that the margin in his glasses would improve vision by blocking excess light to the eye.
In 19th century development of glasses began to speed up. Benjamin Franklin invented bifocal lenses which allowed people with both near and far-sighted affectation to use one pair of glasses instead of both. By cutting the lens in half, the close viewing lens is set at bottom half and for far viewing, the lens is set up in the top half. He invented this type of lenses because he suffered from presbyopia, a condition which means “age of sight” as he was getting old.
Another style that was prominent in this time was "scissor spectacles." These were the glasses that could be stored in the pocket and taken out when needed. This invention was done due to peoples dislike in wearing spectacles all the time. The early 1800s also saw the introduction of peculiar cylindrical lenses for correcting astigmatism.
After 1800s, the 1900s saw a trend toward making glasses fashionable and stylish. Frames with different shapes, materials, and colors became available for those who wanted glasses to match their face shape, eye color, or outfit. This change was seen notably in this century because of availability and development of strong plastics from polymethyl methacrylate which is a transparent thermoplastic. There was no longer need to make glasses with wood, metal, or horn frames. Plastics could be molded into many shapes and sizes. The first light weight plastic glasses were CR-39 introduced by Pittsburgh plate glass company.
Finally, the 1980s saw the introduction of plastic lenses. These were less breakable, and they could be made lighter and thinner. Modern technology continues to improve glasses with protective coatings that reduce glare and UV light. The 20th century also saw the rise of sunglasses. Though they were first innovated in Chins the were not used for the protection of eyes. They were used to obscure the eyes of judges in court so no one could determine their expressions.
Now a days there are many types of spectacles present which suits your eyes your face and there are also some specialized spectacles that are protected with UV film so eyes don't get over strained due to the constant exposure of screen.
Our glasses are the result of centuries of innovative technology and in future there will be more advanced versions of spectacles that we still have no clue of. They could be designed in such a way that they are more smarter than us and can remember and memories things better than us. The future ahead of us is full of new innovations and its for us to make it wonderful.
VEDANSHI FADIA
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