16 Forever Surrey / anniversary issue


Science and Technology


Contact lenses inspire tomorrow’s electric cars


Ground-breaking research from Surrey and Augmented Optics Ltd, in collaboration with the University of Bristol, has developed potentially transformational technology which could revolutionise the capabilities of appliances that have previously relied on battery power to work.


This development could translate into very high energy density super-capacitors making it possible to recharge your mobile phone, laptop or other mobile devices in just a few seconds, or power an electric car from London to Edinburgh without recharging.


The technology was adapted from the principles used to make soſt contact lenses, which Dr Donald Highgate (of Augmented Optics, and an alumnus of the University) developed following his postgraduate studies at Surrey 40 years ago.


For more details see supercapacitormaterials.com


A selfie of the heart


Over 44,000 people die every year in the UK aſter contracting blood poisoning (sepsis); detection is oſten too late for successful treatment. However, Surrey’s Department of Mathematics has developed code for analysing blood pressure signals to see if it can robustly predict the early development of sepsis and potentially save lives.


A fingertip monitor is used to collect signals which are then turned into a ‘cardiomorph’ – a visualisation of how the heart is functioning.


Lead researcher Professor Philip Aston said: “With sepsis resulting in more deaths in the UK every year than bowel, breast and prostate cancer combined, the use of readily available physiological data to detect sepsis early has the potential to bring real impact.”


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