Narrator: This is Science Today. Using houseflies and dragonflies as models, bioengeineers at the University of California , Berkeley have developed an artificial compound lens that structurally and optically mimic an insect's 360 degree field of vision. Bioengineering professor Luke Lee says the device uses thousands of microscopic lenses to provide a wider field of vision than previously possible.

Lee: This is a new way of fabricating three dimensional optical systems.

Narrator: These eyes can eventually be used as cameras for various surveillance applications and Lee says they can even be used in medical procedures, such as endoscopies and image-guided surgeries that require the use of cameras.

Lee: Hopefully, using all this biologically-inspired technology and discovery, we can make a nice, new platform for preventive medicine that we can create new diagnostic system by having a new sensor using this technology.

Narrator: Artificial compound eyes may first be used in ultra-thin camera phones within the next few years. For Science Today, I'm Larissa Branin .