‘Bionic’ contact lenses: a projection into the future?

Ever reached the train station and panicked because you realised you haven’t written down your ticket collection number from your email? Or rushed to the library to print off an essay due in 10 minutes, only to find out you don’t have your memory stick and had forgotten to email it to yourself?

It is likely that most of us can identify with these situations, living in a world which relies upon technology. However, all of that panic may be over soon, as scientists are close to developing contact lenses that allow you to project emails and text messages right before your eyes!

The scientists at the University of Washington have successfully tested a new generation of contact lenses that allow the wearer to read floating emails and texts on the surface of the eye as well as augment their sight with computer-generated images, just like a real life terminator.

The tests performed on rabbits, (apparently those with email accounts), were shown to not have any damaging effects and proved the idea is feasible. The next step in testing is to successfully project predetermined text onto the lens and embed hundreds more pixels into the ‘screen’ to produce holographic images.

Although only in the early stages of testing, the scientists anticipate that the device could offer a range of possibilities. For example, drivers could use them to project their vehicle speed onto their windscreen, and they could provide a new generation in the virtual world of video gaming. Additionally, they could potentially be used for medical purposes to provide regular updates on blood sugar levels to the wearer.

Although the prospect of shopping on ASOS during a lecture is exciting, you can’t pre-order a pair from Specsavers just yet as there are still a few hurdles to overcome. Currently the device only works if it’s within centimetres of the wireless battery and the microcircuit, one hundredth the width of a human hair, can’t quite emit enough light. Despite these setbacks, could this new ‘bionic’ lens be what the world has been waiting for, or is it just a way for people to live out their Sci-fi fantasises?