Navitar announced the launch of their second generation interactive online lens selector tool, the Optical Wizard 2.0, now available at www.opticalwizard.com.

Navitar's first generation Optical Wizard was launched in April 2006. It quickly established a place on the favorites list of engineers, end-users, and OEM's as the resource tool to use when needing a lens or complete lens system for machine vision or electronic imaging applications. The new Optical Wizard 2.0 expands on the existing functionality and offers a more appealing and streamlined look. The user-friendly interface and step-by-step process simplify the lens selection process and offers users 24/7 optical vision support and solutions.

Users are welcomed with a clean, vibrant home page where they can easily enter their lens requirements and selection criteria such as camera sensor format, object size, working distance and desired camera mount. Additional features such as fluorescence, UV, telecentricity and motorization, can also be specified on this main screen. Once data is entered, the user is immediately presented with product families that match their application requirements along with pricing. "Part of our efforts to streamline navigation and improve usability was to present the product family options on the main entry screen versus bringing users to a new screen for that information. Now users can view their lens and price options right up front and modify their inputs if necessary," comments William Bridson, Director of Product Development at Navitar.

A wider screen display, enhanced interactivity and additional visual elements were also key enhancements. As users move further into the wizard adding additional items and accessories to complete their lens set up, they will encounter more in-depth descriptions, cleaner side-by-side system comparisons, and the new ability to test drive a lens system.

Once the ideal system is created, the equipment is displayed with final pricing, mechanical drawings and further comparison between original user input and performance output of the lens selection. The user has the option to add items to an online shopping cart, contact Navitar and speak further to an applications engineer, or contact a Navitar dealer for complete system integration.

"We are very pleased with the new design and functionality of version 2.0. It is extremely user-friendly," comments Jeremy Goldstein, President of Navitar. "The Optical Wizard 2.0 is ideal for finding imaging lens solutions for a variety of applications spanning markets such biotechnology and life science including fluorescence imaging, cell identification, colony picking, cell sorting, live cell imaging, microfluidics, DIC / phase contrast imaging, crystal growth, and in-vivo studies in animals. Semiconductor and electronic systems users can find lens solutions for applications that include wafer metrology, photovoltaic and flat panel inspection, laser micromachining, UV imaging and SWIR hyperspectral imaging as well."