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Regarding the “new humanmade version of an insect’s compound eye,” it has been obvious for many years that such structures need not be exceptionally small and need not be extremely like ommatidia to behave like ommatidia. Triads of small light sensors can be arrayed in large, wide, and slightly concave or convex panels and hardwired into networks capable of not only sensing but also of tracking motion—in color. Many practical advantages accrue from the fact that such panels do not resemble “eyes” and are therefore ignored by subjects who would be aware of cameras. I find the suggestion that such devices are extremely high tech and difficult to make somewhat disingenuous.

David C. Oshel
Cedar Rapids, Iowa