Augmented Reality in a Contact Lens
But we have built a lens with one LED, which we’ve powered wirelessly with RF. What we’ve done so far barely hints at what will soon be possible with this technology.
Augmented reality is getting to be a very big deal. In a meeting the other day, I theorised that it’s only a matter of time before these kinds of interfaces to the world will make a move from the iPhone to contact lenses. And today, there’s a news story about it. Stop thinking I’m bloody brilliant. Okay, you can think that a little.
There are possibilities here for assistive devices, but the other use would be akin to a mobile phone or directory service. There’s the possibility of hacking, abuse, and social issues similar to what we’re seeing with people addicted to online gaming (and the resulting health and social issues). Will there be a new breed of CSO that deals with some kind of technological addiction? How will they operate in a new technological society? Can the workers there safely use computers? Would it be like an alcohol counselling group meeting in a pub? And what about all this additional RF radiation around?
The linked article is fairly technical in nature (it’s in a technical journal), but the point is that people are working on this, they’re making good progress, and we’re likely to see workable products within the next 15 years. How will this change things?