Polymer Coating Has The Potential To Turn Contact Lenses Into Graphic Displays

Each day it seems that the basic concept of “anything the human mind conceives can be created” is proven. Years ago, Dick Tracy video watches were thought to be just a figment of the imagination, a fantasy that would never be reality. One look at today’s watches and tablets would certainly unseat the most hardcore skeptic. And almost not a day passes during which something novel is discovered, created, and, most likely, sold to the public.

Such is the case with scientists from the University of South Australia’s Future Industries Institute who have developed a polymer film coating they claim has the ability to turn contact lenses into computer screens. Essentially this is an electrically-conductive film, which means circuits can be made with it and applied to a surface such as a small lens.

 

Associate Professor Drew Evans calls the technology a game changer that could provide one of the safest methods to bring people and their smart devices closer together.

He states, “We’re talking about anything from a simple sensor that can measure the amount of glucose in your blood through to actually creating electronic displays so rather than having something like a pair of glasses that’s acting like a computer, you can actually generate images directly on your contact lens.”

Exciting development to say the least, but we are not quite at point where we’ll have a PC or Mac on eye. “Obviously the timeframe to go from where we are now to different applications is unknown”, says Professor Evans, “but it’s the first step towards being able to do a lot.” However, if things go as usual, YouTube and Netflix will be coming to an eyeball near you soon.

For more details, visit http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/staff/Homepage.asp?Name=drew.evans and http://www.unisa.edu.au/news

~MD