From Cameras to Chemical Sensors: The Rise of Computational Assays

Melinda Bernabe Chu · Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (2026) · DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19801209

Resumen

Traditional chemical detection has long relied on specialized laboratory instruments like spectrophotometers and mass spectrometers for high-precision analysis. However, advances in smartphone cameras and computational imaging are enabling a new paradigm called computational assays, where chemical reactions produce visible optical signals (such as color or clarity changes) that are captured by cameras and analyzed algorithmically rather than by eye alone. Sophisticated image processing can detect subtle shifts in color channels, contrast, and spatial patterns invisible to humans, turning everyday imaging devices into portable chemical sensors. This approach is finding applications in environmental monitoring, medical diagnostics, materials analysis, and lab automation, offering low-cost, accessible alternatives to bulky equipment. As camera technology and machine learning improve, the line between optical imaging and quantitative chemical sensing continues to blur, pointing to a future where cameras extract detailed chemical information from the world around us through the convergence of optics, software, and chemistry.