Tech Trends
C D A J O U R N A L , V O L 4 8 , Nº 1 0
A look into the latest dental and general technology on the market
Neewer Foldable 256 LED Lighting Panel on Fabric ($99, Neewer) Ideal, consistent lighting for clinical photographs is difficult to attain in a dental practice due to an assortment of distracting light sources, inadequate space for professional lighting fixtures and the mouth itself being a difficult subject to capture. Fortunately, improved LED technology has led to capable and affordable facsimiles of professional lighting products that can improve outcomes without complicating clinical workflows. One such product, which has been gaining attention in the amateur photography world, is the fabric LED panel. These devices are pieces of cloth with small but powerful LED bulbs sewn into them to provide users with an adaptable light source that can be held and contorted in a multitude of configurations. The Neewer Foldable 256 LED Lighting Panel on Fabric is one of many similar products; however, it manages to incorporate a few features that make it rise above many of its peers. The entire product consists of the fabric panel, a carrying case, four aluminum square tubes that lock together to form an optional frame, a cloth diffuser to soften the light, an adapter to screw the frame onto a tripod, a remote control and the power adapter. All these items combined weigh about 3 pounds with the fabric panel itself weighing less than 10 ounces, and all fit well in the 12-inch carrying case. Operation is simple: Turn on the light switch and adjust brightness with the remote, which as a bonus can control two Neewer panels independently. The panel produces 4,500 lumens and is harshly bright; it is strongly recommended to use the diffuser (which attaches via Velcro on the panel lining) at all brightness levels. The panel can be wrapped around the arm of an operatory light, taped to a surface or propped on a table. Overall, the Neewer Foldable 256 LED Lighting Panel on Fabric is an affordable, small and versatile device that can help with lighting inconsistencies in a clinical setting. — Alexander Lee, DMD
Adobe Photoshop Camera (Free, Adobe) Most people enjoy taking good pictures with their smartphone camera whether for social media, art, hobby, passion or fun. With the technology and processing power packed into current smartphones, anyone can become an amateur professional photographer without advanced training. One of the tools available to take advantage of this is Adobe Photoshop Camera, an app that uses the power of artificial intelligence to bring professional-quality filters and effects to smartphone camera photos. Adobe Photoshop Camera requires an Adobe account, which is free to create. Once logged in, the app is extremely easy to use with intuitive controls and gestures organized around the shutter button to navigate through its features. The shutter button is comfortable and prominently placed where the thumb naturally rests on the lower center area of the screen, which displays a live preview of the front- or rear-facing camera. Immediately to the left of the shutter is the lens button that brings up a tray of effects organized by category. Selecting a lens immediately applies the effect to the live preview displayed. Users can swipe left or right to choose between various effects from within a category. New lenses are available weekly from Adobe and can be downloaded directly and managed from within the app. The app makes real-time intelligent lens recommendations when certain objects, such as selfies, food or scenery, are detected in the live preview by displaying an effect button above the shutter. The library button to the right of the shutter allows users to navigate through their studio of photos taken by the app or to access and apply effects to photos in their default camera roll. Other features within the app include changing the picture aspect ratio for compatibility with social media services and standard camera adjustments for focus, flash and lighting. Pictures taken by the app with applied lens effects are visually stunning and ready to share with others. With an endless library of lens effects available for users to choose from and an intuitive interface, Adobe Photoshop Camera makes professional photography easily accessible to anyone with a smartphone. — Hubert Chan, DDS
576 OC TOBER
2020
