September 28, 2012
White Phosphor technology has made a big splash in the night vision world recently, but is it really all that better than traditional green image night vision? The typical green view has been around since WWII. Its the current standard for everyone from the military to bird watchers, although, we could be seeing the dawn of a new era in night vision technology. So far, white phosphor technology has been tested by military and law enforcement agencies with very promising results. Very soon, we could see it become popular enough to be adopted by the general public as well.
White phosphor: The new standard?
There are many reasons to suggest that white phosphor technology is here to stay. It gives off a black and white image instead of the typical green and black, which is easier to see contrast between objects of varying light levels. The black and white is also more natural to our eyes. We are much more used to viewing things in black and white as opposed to a washed out green and black viewing space. You can pull higher image resolution and vision distance with white phosphor, making it the hands down winner by almost all comparisons. The only apparent downside of white phosphor technology right now is that it is exceedingly expensive compared to traditional night vision gear. Pricing will definitely go down as time goes on and the technology improves, though.
Top performer in the field
White phosphor performs better in the field in tactical situations for both the military and law enforcement. With the enhanced contrast and resolution, users were able to acquire targets faster and easier than even generation three plus night vision equipment. This has the potential to save lives, since being even seconds ahead of your enemy makes all the difference in the world.
Many civilian applications as well
This technology is definitely perfect for law enforcement and military use, but it also has practical usages for the civilian world as well. There so many animals that only come out at night and its a shame that we are so limited by our means of observing them. Using traditional flashlights and lamps can disturb and scare away the animal you wish to observe. Traditional night vision equipment is a great alternative to harsh lights, however, the animals appear bright green and can be distracting to viewers. With white phosphor night vision you can observe even the shyest of nocturnal animals in crisp black and white without disturbing them.
Flash in the pan, or here to stay?
Only time will tell whether or not white phosphor technology will be the new gold standard in night vision, however, it is a safe bet to say that we havent seen the last of this exciting technological breakthrough. For the time being, much of night vision usage is on the fringe of daily usage, but we are approaching a critical mass of availability that will eventually put this in the hands of everyday users. Be sure to discover how this new type of night vision technology can work for you, because you dont want to be left in the dark.