Sunglasses
For most of human history, we have all just squinted on bright days or when on the water or snow. Or we have worn some kind of head covering to keep the sun mostly out of our eyes. How did sunglasses become a thing?
The Inuit, who spend much of their lives on blindingly bright snow and ice, developed eye protection using flattened pieces of walrus ivory with eyeslits before recorded history. It appears from my reading they were the first to develop such protection.
Chinese judges in the 12th century wore lenses made of polished smoky quartz, to help hide their expressions as they questioned witnesses in court. Apparently any sympathy or antagonism, real or perceived, toward the witness could jeopardize the judges’ good reputations.
There were occasionally darkened lenses made for individuals with light sensitivity, but they would have had to be specially made and probably quite expensive, up until the 1930s. Then, a man named Sam Foster started mass producing “sunglasses” to be sold at his shop on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. He sold them under the name Foster Grant, and they were an instant hit.
In WWII, US aircraft pilots were issued “aviator glasses” with tinted lenses made by Ray-Ban. This, coupled with increasing conspicuous use by Hollywood movie stars and jetsetters going to tropical locales on vacation, or just playing in the California sun, made sunglasses immensely popular worldwide.
Today, sunglasses are popular as a protective and fashionable accessory. Already big tech companies such as Google, Snap and Facebook have developed hi tech sunglasses capable of recording video and taking voice commands, and reportedly Apple and Amazon currently have versions in development.
Here endeth the lesson on sunglasses.
Bike Newbie 