Acting as a lens, the rig's large water-filled orb concentrates diffused daylight or moonlight onto a solar cell with the help of optical tracking to harvest electricity.

ENGADGET: Spherical glass lens concentrates sunlight by up to 10,000 times, boosts solar cell efficiency

It is the world's most powerful optical sensor, achieving up to 6400 dpi resolution without sacrificing the natural tracking feel of an optical sensor or yielding the robotic sensation of a comparable laser option.

ENGADGET: Razer DeathAdder adds 4G optical sensor, available now for $69

Rounding out the specs are optical image stabilization (MEGA OIS), intelligent ISO, AF tracking, face detection, HDMI output, and intelligent scene selector with Venus Engine HD image processing and a Supersonic Wave Filter dust reduction system under the hood.

ENGADGET: Panasonic's Lumix G1: world's first micro Four Thirds camera

Lucent already surfs this optical wave--so much so that it is mulling whether to issue a new tracking stock pegged to its booming optics business.

FORBES: Wired and Restless