Bionic contact lenses are devices that, it is proposed by the manufacturers and developers, could provide a virtual display that could have a variety of uses from assisting the visually impaired to video gaming. The device will have the form of a conventional
contact lens with added
bionics technology in the form of a
head-up display
A head-up display, or heads-up display, also known as a HUD (), is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints. The origin of the name stems from a pilot being able to view informa ...
, with functional electronic circuits and
infrared lights to create a virtual display allowing the viewer to see a computer-generated display superimposed on the world outside.
Proposed components
An antenna on the lens could pick up a radio frequency.
In 2016, work on Interscatter from the University of Washington has shown the first
Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio wav ...
enabled contact lens prototype that can communicate directly with mobile devices such as smart phones at data rates between 2–11Mbit/s.
Development
Development of the first contact lens display began in the 1990s.
Experimental versions of these devices have been demonstrated, such as one developed by
Sandia National Laboratories
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), also known as Sandia, is one of three research and development laboratories of the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Headquartered in Kirtland Air Force Bas ...
. The lens is expected to have more electronics and capabilities on the areas where the eye does not see.
Radio frequency power transmission and
solar cells
A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell, is an electronic device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect, which is a physical and chemical phenomenon. are expected in future developments. Recent work augmented the contact lens with Wi-Fi connectivity.
In 2011, a functioning prototype with a wireless antenna and a single-pixel display was developed.
Previous prototypes proved that it is possible to create a biologically safe electronic lens that does not obstruct a person’s view. Engineers have tested the finished lenses on rabbits for up to 20 minutes and the animals showed no problems.
See also
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Augmented reality
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Google Contact Lens
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Heads-Up Display
A head-up display, or heads-up display, also known as a HUD (), is any transparent display that presents data without requiring users to look away from their usual viewpoints. The origin of the name stems from a pilot being able to view informa ...
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Optical head-mounted display
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Smartglasses
Smartglasses or smart glasses are eye or head-worn wearable computers that offer useful capabilities to the user. Many smartglasses include displays that add information alongside or to what the wearer sees. Alternatively, smartglasses are som ...
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Visual prosthesis
A visual prosthesis, often referred to as a bionic eye, is an experimental visual device intended to restore functional vision in those with partial or total blindness. Many devices have been developed, usually modeled on the cochlear implant or ...
External links
RaayonNovaSmartContactLens Inc
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bionic Contact Lens
Contact lenses
Artificial organs
Emerging technologies
American inventions
Augmented reality
Bionics