The iPad has found its use in molecular science through the app Optical Tweezers! We all have marveled over the smooth touch of the iPad. Well, scientists are also marveling over it but for a scientific reason. Microscopic process of organisms is being studied using the iPad by manipulating tiny particles. Who would have think so?
“Optical tweezers” is the name of this revelation, an application for iPad developed by researchers at Universities of Glasgow and Bristol in Scotland. It is an easy to use yet intelligent instrument of science. The Optical tweezers get to the finest of details of particles as much as a nanometer (One-billionth of a meter) and micrometer (One-millionth of a meter). This is achieved by exertion of small forces through intense laser beams. On exit through a microscope these laser beams are transformed to be ultra-focused.
Yester years proved to be difficult times for molecular biologists who had to struggle with the mouse and joystick systems which were the only options available. Using such devices it was almost impossible for them to carry out investigations on tiny particles to precision.
The paper from Journal of Optics on March 4th reveals the basic concept of this app as leveraging the touch screen facility of the iPad to develop a 3-D control system interface. By pinching on the screen or changing their positions, the scientists can thus move around particles using this new application. According to the paper, due to the high response rate and easiness of use of the touch screen in iPad, not so experienced researchers are also able to trap the particles, move them around and translate the microscopic stage.
Individual and a group of particles can now be mobilized vertically, horizontally and even rotated around an axis with mush ease. The report went on to say how the interface of the iPad also enables instinctual control of a holographic optical tweezers system by use of the app on the iPad and a changed tweezers version on a host PC.
When Steve jobs, the CEO of Apple proposed the iPad as a truly magical and revolutionary device, it seems he had foreseen such innovative uses of his tablet. With such uses proposed by scientists, his claim seems to be proved to perfection.