Smart microscopy : adaptive microscope control to improve the way we see life
(2026) In Npj imaging 4(1).- Abstract
Smart microscopy lies at the intersection of biology, optics, engineering, and computer science. Unlike traditional microscopes, smart systems actively adapt their acquisition settings in real time based on information extracted from the sample, allowing experiments to navigate competing demands such as resolution, speed and sample health. In this review, we present a practical framework for what makes a microscope "smart," defining smart microscopy as the combination of real-time analysis, feedback control, and automated actuation. To guide implementation, we classify smart microscopy approaches by experimental goal (quality-, event-, target-, information- or outcome-driven) and discuss the corresponding strategies for analysis and... (More)
Smart microscopy lies at the intersection of biology, optics, engineering, and computer science. Unlike traditional microscopes, smart systems actively adapt their acquisition settings in real time based on information extracted from the sample, allowing experiments to navigate competing demands such as resolution, speed and sample health. In this review, we present a practical framework for what makes a microscope "smart," defining smart microscopy as the combination of real-time analysis, feedback control, and automated actuation. To guide implementation, we classify smart microscopy approaches by experimental goal (quality-, event-, target-, information- or outcome-driven) and discuss the corresponding strategies for analysis and control. Finally, we highlight key challenges and the growing role of community-driven efforts in making smart microscopy more accessible and widely adopted across the life sciences.
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- author
- Rates, Alfredo ; Passmore, Josiah B ; Norlin, Nils LU and Kapitein, Lukas C
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-03-03
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Npj imaging
- volume
- 4
- issue
- 1
- article number
- 14
- publisher
- Springer Nature
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:41776322
- scopus:105031826240
- ISSN
- 2948-197X
- DOI
- 10.1038/s44303-026-00145-y
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- additional info
- © 2026. The Author(s).
- id
- 82dc7884-b005-4ae9-beee-defafb0ec3bf
- date added to LUP
- 2026-04-08 12:44:02
- date last changed
- 2026-06-04 09:35:44
@article{82dc7884-b005-4ae9-beee-defafb0ec3bf,
abstract = {{<p>Smart microscopy lies at the intersection of biology, optics, engineering, and computer science. Unlike traditional microscopes, smart systems actively adapt their acquisition settings in real time based on information extracted from the sample, allowing experiments to navigate competing demands such as resolution, speed and sample health. In this review, we present a practical framework for what makes a microscope "smart," defining smart microscopy as the combination of real-time analysis, feedback control, and automated actuation. To guide implementation, we classify smart microscopy approaches by experimental goal (quality-, event-, target-, information- or outcome-driven) and discuss the corresponding strategies for analysis and control. Finally, we highlight key challenges and the growing role of community-driven efforts in making smart microscopy more accessible and widely adopted across the life sciences.</p>}},
author = {{Rates, Alfredo and Passmore, Josiah B and Norlin, Nils and Kapitein, Lukas C}},
issn = {{2948-197X}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{03}},
number = {{1}},
publisher = {{Springer Nature}},
series = {{Npj imaging}},
title = {{Smart microscopy : adaptive microscope control to improve the way we see life}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s44303-026-00145-y}},
doi = {{10.1038/s44303-026-00145-y}},
volume = {{4}},
year = {{2026}},
}