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Belgian Researchers Build LCD Contact Lenses

Posted by samzenpus on from the bright-eyes dept.

First time accepted submitter nickvad writes "The Belgian Centre for Microsystems Technology has built a spherical LCD display in a contact lens. The technology is groundbreaking and holds a wide range of applications from medical to cosmetic applications and more. The LCD technology has the potential to be used as a productivity or a social tool, paving the way for futuristic technological innovations like Google Glass."

7 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. Massive summary and editorial fail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    It is not similar at all to Google Glass. From the article:

    The display is not intended for the wearer of the lens to view – the human eye would be unable to focus on such a close-up object – and it would only be seen by others

    As for the actual purpose, well, you'll just have to RTFA... :)

  2. Oblig by Jimbob+The+Mighty · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Why is it called the eyePhone?"

  3. ...oh-kay. by wierd_w · · Score: 4, Insightful

    about the best this could be useful as, is as a flash protection optical device. Couple a thin film photocell to the LCD layer, so that a bright light automatically powers the LCD and dims the light that reaches the eye. That way it wouldn't need all that data bus hanging off of it.

    For an image display? Useless. The focal distance is way too close for the human eye. The resolution sucks balls. Displaying an image would require a data bus, and I don't want that crap irritating my eyeballs by hanging out plastic ribbon cables.

    For welding goggles? Kick ass!
    Protecting soldiers from flash burned retinas? Kick ass!
    Displaying swirlies on your eyeballs as a conversation piece? Dude, you have ribbon cables hanging out of your eyes.

    Augmented reality? What the fuck are you smoking? I want some.

  4. Re:focus by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    Not focus _on_, but focus _with_ these contact lenses. Now that they have figured out how to make very thin spherical membranes (in the FA) with optical quality, these could be used for any number of other devices. I'm thinking of the holy grail of contact lenses--active focus (by adding or subtracting small amounts of fluid between two layers to change the lens.

  5. Re:focus by LordLucless · · Score: 5, Informative

    is it even possible to focus on a display that is literally on your cornea

    Nope. Despite what the summary says, this isn't intended to provide a view to the wearer at all. It's purely cosmetic - people looking at you could see dollar signs in your eyes, and you might be able to use your contacts as sunglasses.

    --
    Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean there isn't an invisible demon about to eat your face
  6. Re:focus by wierd_w · · Score: 5, Informative

    That's most likely "floaters", and not dust on the cornea.

    http://www.drhaefs.com/medical_eye_exam/eye_floaters.html

    Essentially, they are sluffed off epithelial cells floating around in the humor inside your eyeballs.

  7. Re:focus by yamum · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... we've got contacts like that already for "bifocal" use -- and dynamically black out ...

    Peril Sensitive Contacts?