Bionic contact lens to project your mailbox onto your eyeballs

The concept:

Researchers at the Aalto University of Finland and Washington University have confirmed the development of a new type of lens that can actually project virtual data that can be directly viewed from your eyes without an intermediate interface. Well, in some time you would be able to check your mails directly through your contact lenses. These lenses are called Bionic contact lenses and the researchers have tested these on animals, which resulted in success without any sign of negative side effects. This is definitely a breakthrough and this technology can be can be used for many potential tasks such as navigation systems, in which the image can be directly generated without the help of any external source. Even for entertainment, the gaming section can derive huge benefits from this technology. After the successful tests conducted on rabbits, the major hurdles are surpassed and the Bionic lenses are one step closer to our door steps.

Bionic contact lenses

The inspiration:

Through these lenses, the image is directly projected on to the surface of your eye. Developers have already completed the major task of getting the human eye to focus on images projected on its surface and just the ironing of wrinkles is what is left. Contact lenses are made from very delicate material and hence it has been very difficult for the developers to make the end product. The next target to make the development more practical is to find an appropriate power source. We power our computers and other electronic devices through the mains but for these lenses, a reliable power source is yet to be connected. Test prototypes can just work within centimeters of the wireless battery, which will not be enough to market the product. Also in normal circumstances, the human eyes can only see if the image is held at least a few centimeters away. The researchers have been working on the lenses to shorten the focal distance, which is a success that could take this technology to its next level of development.

The design:

The design of the Bionic lenses by far has been the toughest challenge. The lenses are made of very delicate material and to create a computerized mechanism within these lenses is a mighty job. The developments prove that the major hurdles in the design and formation of these lenses have been surpassed. The electric circuits embedded within the lenses are made from just a few nanometer thick metals formed into layers. Light emitting diodes are also constructed for image projection. It will be astonishing to experience how electric circuits and electrical diodes, LED lights and wireless antennas are embedded within the delicate material of our normal contact lenses. Though according to the tests there are no negative side effects of using these lenses, the long term effects cannot yet be determined and some more research is required before the Bionic lenses will be out for sale.

The fabulous:

The scientists have invented such a technology, which is likely to be advanced with every passing day. If we talk about the benefits that the normal people can derive from these lenses, the lists of applications that can be developed are endless. This can be a permanent hi-tech solution for hands-free wireless communication in the coming future. Just imagine if you can read texts, emails, and news and updates just a few millimeters of your retina. Such a device will slowly revolutionize our whole computing technology, embedded within the most delicate material of your contact lenses. Pilots and drivers will be able to see a vehicle's speed and other crucial data without the need of an LCD screen and any other device. The entertainment sector can have a whole new angle to build a virtual world, which shall immerse the gamers completely. This technology connected with sensors and virtual computing devices will change the whole face of internet and networking.

The target:

In the manufacturing of Bionic lenses, the electrical circuits to be built have to undergo high temperatures, and withstand the usage of inorganic materials and harmful toxic chemicals. The challenge here is to develop a safe and feasible device for everyday use. Advancing forward with this technology, the next target for the developers will be to embed predefined text on trial prototypes. While all these could be taken care of, the major concern still remaining is to find an appropriate power source for the device to work wireless without a confined range. Just to project the image will not be enough in the future, and some other technology has to be developed parallelly, which will allow users to navigate through and command. This will be a breakthrough in the computing technology and maybe someday your lenses could keep a check on your health, navigate you through ways, provide critical updates through images, texts and videos, and much more. The end product has to be safe, feasible, much more practical and under a defined market price.

Related trend:

1. Smart Contact Lenses from Sensimed

Smart Contact Lenses from Sensimed

The technology to provide plain simple contact lenses with the power to utilize wireless networking and direct image projection is not just for convenience or entertainment. Sensimed, a Swiss based biotech company, has introduced to the world the first ever soft contact lenses that are capable of augmenting the treatment of glaucoma. The smart contact lenses are commercially viable and are embedded with a wireless technology to keep a check on the disease. The platinum strain gauges in these lenses can record the changes in the curvature of the cornea and transmit the information wirelessly to a recording device. This will allow to keep a 24/7 check and, in turn, can determine the chronobiology of the disease. Through these lenses, one can keep a complete track on the changes because of the disease, which can help to modulate patient's medication and other requirements. According to a researcher at Washington University, the same technology can be used to determine the blood sugar levels in tears with the help of these micro contact lenses. More wonders to follow!