| Night vision goggles use an electro optical imaging | | | | located and then magnify this light several times over |
| device which is able to detect both visible and near | | | | by use of the image intensifier. |
| infrared energy sources and then is able to intensify | | | | You will often see this type of night vision being used |
| these energy sources further in order to provide a | | | | when reporters are reporting from a war zone and |
| visible image for viewing at night. Sometimes people | | | | the pictures that you seen on the TV in front of you |
| will often refer to them as NVG's instead. Today's | | | | will have a green tint to it. The reason why green is |
| night vision goggles can either be held by a person in | | | | used in most night vision devices is because the |
| their hands or be mounted on to a helmet. | | | | human eye is very sensitive and is able to discern |
| Although the general public are able to obtain and use | | | | things more clearly when it comes in various shades |
| these night vision devices, more often than not they | | | | of green. Plus using green helps the user's eyes to |
| are used by law enforcement agencies and the | | | | readjust more quickly once the goggles have been |
| military. Initially these devices were used by the military | | | | removed compared to other colors that have been |
| forces during the Vietnam war and have gone through | | | | tried. |
| many stages of development since then and currently | | | | The other type are active night vision goggles. They |
| the US Military are now using a 4th generation version | | | | project an infrared light (the same which you will find in |
| of the ones originally developed. | | | | your TV or satellite remote control). They then |
| The prices of these night vision goggles can cost as | | | | produce an image to the user's eye because of the |
| little as a couple of hundred dollars to some of them | | | | light that has been reflected back. |
| costing around $6,000. However there are some 3rd | | | | However in order for these to be really effective an |
| generation goggles which are of a very high quality | | | | image enhancer may be required to amplify the light |
| and can cost less than a $1,000 and are more widely | | | | further. Today this kind of night vision device is often |
| available to the general public than the 4th generation | | | | used in home video cameras and is certainly the most |
| ones are. | | | | suitable for us to use in order for us to see adequately |
| There are two kinds of night vision goggles in use | | | | in the dark at night. But it should be noted that there |
| today and these are the passive and active. Passive | | | | are some night vision goggles which actually combine |
| night vision goggles are able to pick up any light within | | | | the two methods together. |
| the immediate area where the person using them is | | | | |