Scientists have developed a new display technology that lets users project text messages on the contact lens, straight from their smartphones. Developed by Ghent University's Centre of Microsystems Technology, a spherical curved LCD display has been designed that can be embedded inside a contact lens. This display will project the text using wireless technology.
The technology developed by Belgian researchers currently works with text based messaging. "Now that we have established the basic technology, we can start working towards real applications, possibly available in only a few years," said Professor Herbert De Smet.
"This is not science fiction," said Jelle De Smet, the chief researcher on the project, who believes commercial applications for the lenses will be available within five years. "This will never replace the cinema screen for films. But for specific applications it may be interesting to show images such as road directions or projecting text messages from our smart phones straight to our eye."
It will be interesting to see what applications and scenarios this new technology can be deployed in. Two that are already being talked about are medicine and fashion. For medical purposes, it is already being considered for scenarios where the eye has a damaged iris, and controlling light to the retina is a priority.
In fashion, the lens can be used to change colour depending on the person’s mood, to match the attire’s colour and even for fun! Certainly, we would like to see this become used more widely, considering, but only after possible health hazards are fully assessed and negated. Tinkering with the eye can be a fairly dangerous process.
