Optopus Imaging Olympics
Build your microscope, try out our image classifier, and enter our competition!
Once you have built your water droplet microscope, you can challenge our classifier in the Optopus Imaging Olympics!
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To take part, we would like you to collect images of one of the four types of samples described in the section below. We've trained a classifier to identify these types of samples, so you can compete to get the highest identification score using your microscope!
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You can share your favourite images with us via email.
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Please note, we recommend opening this page while connected to a stable WIFI connection rather than mobile internet, for best performance of the classifier, and to make sure you don't use too much data!
How do I use the classifier?
The rules
Step 1: Build a microscope
Follow the instructions on the Water Droplet Magnifying Glass or Water Droplet Microscope page.
We don't mind which version you use, so you can capture images in whichever you find easier to set up.
Step 2: Capture Your Images
Use your microscope to capture images of one of the following different types of samples. You can pick your favourite, or capture images of all four:​
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Salt crystals
Onion skins
Smartphone screen
Human hair
Step 3: Try your pictures on our image classifier
In the next section of the page is an image classifier, a type of artificial intelligence algorithm which has been trained to recognise certain types of images and identify them.
This classifier has been trained on images of our four categories: salt crystals, hair strands, phone screens, and onion skins. For a fun competition, you can try to compete to get the best pictures and earn the highest score on our classifier!
Step 4: Share your best images with us
Once you've played around with the classifier, consider entering our DIDA Diagnostics Imaging Competition.
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If you've managed to take images of all the samples for our classifier, why not take some images of other samples and share them with us?
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The best images will win prizes!
Image Classifier
The image classifier below uses artificial intelligence to try to guess the content of the images you upload.
The classifier is trained to recognise microscopic images of four different kinds of subjects: grains of salt, pixels of a mobile phone screen, human hairs and onion skins. Try to upload some images below and see whether our classifier identifies them.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to images that I upload to the classifer?
Very little actually. The classifier model is downloaded to your phone or computer by the browser, and then the classification is done locally on your device. We are never sent any of your images through the classifier.
If you want to share your images with us, you have to send them separately via email. If you are under 18, please get an adult to send the images to us.