New LCD Contact Lens

Hey all!  Today I would like to share an interesting technology innovation about contact lens. I care about this as I also wear contact lens.

Researchers from IMEC at the Centre of Microsystems Technology (CMST) in Ghent University, Belgium have developed a spherical curved LCD which can be embedded into contact lenses. This new LCD technology allows electronic messages sent from mobile phones to be directly projected on to contact lens placed in the recipient's eyes. It can display much more detailed designs than an LED-based contact lens display and also allow use of the entire contact lens surface as a display. The example, shown below shows a dollar sign displayed upon the LCD. 

 

*** The 1st prototype presented today contains a patterned dollar sign, depicting the many cartoons that feature people or figures with dollars in their eyes. It can only display rudimentary patterns, similar to an electronic pocket calculator. In the future, the researchers envision fully autonomous electronic contact lenses embedded with this display. These next-generation solutions could be used for medical purposes, for example, to control the light transmission toward teh retina in case of a damaged iris, or for cosmetic purposes such as an iris with a tunable color. In the future, the display could also function as a head-up display, superimposing an image onto the user's normal view. However, there are still hurdless to overcome for broader consumer and civilian implementation.

The spherical curved LCD display can be embedded in contact lenses and handle projected images using wireless technology. The new technology allows the whole curved surface of the lens to be used, unlike previous contact lens displays, which are limited to a few small pixels to make up an image. One application suggested by the researchers is a “one pixel, fully covered contact lens acting as adaptable sunglasses”.  

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. The innovation is the first step towards “fully pixelated contact lens displays” with the same detail as a television screen. 

Currently the spherical curved LCD based technology can only display rudimentary pixel patterns like what we may see on a pocket calculator. Another thing to consider about the new development is that the pictures and patterns displayed cannot be “read” by the wearer as they are far too close to the eye to focus upon, even for the most myopic person.

 

The LCD display may have medical, cosmetic and entertainment applications but the first practical idea is that a “one-pixel, fully covered contact lens acting as adaptable sunglasses” could be built into the eye to help people with damaged retinas. Different pixel patterns could control the light transmission to the eye and a color LCD could even tune the iris color appearance.

There remains the challenge of powering the LCD once it’s on or built into the eye. The prototype in the video and picture uses a 5V wired connection. The device only needs a tiny current to change the display so it is hoped that in the future it could be powered autonomously using electromagnetic induction. Also integrated flexible solar cells and micro batteries are a power option.

Here's a closer look at the lens in action complemented by an eclectic musical accompaniment:

 

Just as there are millions of smartphone apps now, we can imagine millions of applications for a computer as close to our brains as a contact lens:

* on the road, providing turn-by-turn directions with unobtrusive coloration.

* stats hovering over the quarterback at a football game.

* virtual name tags affixed to everyone's shirt at a business networking event.

* lyrics floating above the stage at a concert.

* subtitles to a live conversation with the foreigner in front of us.

* voice-powered, hands free Google search and note-taking that expands our memory and information recall.

* new, immersive games, visual art, and narrative art that goes far beyond what 2D screens can offer.