By Sandy Fitzgerald | Wed Nov 23, 2011 4:47 pm |
A new kind of contact lens projects text and e-mail images in front of a wearer's eye, giving people another way to stay connected.
The technology isn't just for people who can't bear to be separated from their communications, but could also help augment people's eyesight with computer-generated images.Washington University in Seattle testing the new contacts on rabbits. However, there are several issues to work out, such as finding a good power source, the BBC reported. Currently, the device can only work if it is within inches of a wireless battery, and its microcircuits are not strong enough. The technology works by using a custom-made sapphire LED and antenna, which is embedded into a plastic contact lens. The new contact lens isn't the first time scientists have worked on a device that integrates closely with people's eyes. Lenovo is working to develop an eye-tracking prototype that allows people to control computers with their eyes, which one day could be used to sidestep touch pads, and extend to a range of applications beyond computing. However, the contact lens would be a device that would connect directly to the eye itself, lending itself to numerous futuristic uses. The developers say one day the lenses will be more than just a gimmick, and allow people to always have a mobile connection right in front of their eyes all the time. If hundreds more pixels are put into the lenses, they could provide complex holographic images, such as journey directions that could be projected onto a windshield, for example. The lenses could also be used for medical reasons, providing up-to-date information about blood sugar levels by linking to sensors in the wearer's body. The team is also working on adapting the lenses to shorten focus distance to make it easier to read images generated right on the eye, rather than having to be seen from a distance away. While the tests were successful, but it will likely be some time before people will be able to play "Call to Duty" just by shifting their eyes. The lenses can only be work for a few minutes at a time because they're made from a hard plastic that doesn't allow the eye to breathe, and no medical tests have been conducted on humans to ensure their safety. However, if they are one day approved, they could add a whole new dimension to how people use technology to work, play and connect with others through a device their bodies' control.
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