Augmented Reality Contact Lenses: Will They Become Reality?
Michael Torneau, SmartGlassesOn
Published 10:37, Fri, June 14 2024
Imagine a world where you no longer need bulky headsets or smart glasses to interact with augmented and mixed reality. This is the vision behind augmented reality (AR) contact lenses. Despite years of experimentation to integrate immersive technologies into smaller formats, AR contact lenses still feel like a distant dream.
The potential of AR contact lenses extends far beyond merely providing a new way to access immersive experiences on the go. Early innovators in this field envision lenses that enhance vision, monitor health, and even aid in medical treatments, such as managing diabetes. So why does progress seem stalled?
The truth is, development is happening, albeit more slowly than anticipated. However, AR contact lenses could still become a reality.
What Are Augmented Reality Contact Lenses?
Augmented reality contact lenses are contact lenses embedded with AR technology, featuring tiny screens and processing chips. These smart contact lenses can display information directly onto our corneas without the need for external devices like glasses or headsets. This could herald a new era for extended reality (XR) experiences, offering access to metaverse environments without cumbersome equipment.
For years, AR vendors have been striving to make smart glasses more stylish, comfortable, and lightweight. AR contact lenses could represent the ultimate ergonomic upgrade. But their potential applications go beyond convenience.
Innovators believe these high-tech lenses will revolutionize healthcare. In 2023, Azalea Vision introduced the “ALMA” lens, using AR and smart technology to treat visual health issues. Future iterations could even record and transmit what a wearer sees to a cloud-based storage system, offering virtually limitless possibilities.
The Challenge: Creating AR Lenses Isn’t Easy
Why aren’t AR contact lenses widely available? The main reason is the immense difficulty in creating them. Embedding intelligent AR experiences into contact lenses requires integrating tiny screens, chips, and technology into an extremely small surface. While micro LED screens on smart glasses are impressive, incorporating such technology into a contact lens is a monumental challenge.
Current technology isn’t quite there yet. This was evident with Mojo Vision, a former leader in AR lens development. In 2020, they showcased a prototype of their Mojo Lens at CES, but it required an external battery. By 2022, Mojo Vision had a feature-complete prototype with on-board power and communication, but it still required extensive user testing and software prototyping. Eventually, Mojo Vision halted the project due to financial constraints and market uncertainties.
Would Augmented Reality Contact Lenses be Successful?
Even if Mojo Vision had secured the funding to continue, would AR lenses have been successful? It’s hard to say. While there’s significant potential, the actual comfort and acceptance of AR contact lenses by the public remain uncertain.
There are clear benefits to using AR in contact lenses for vision improvement and health monitoring. However, the idea of seeing informational overlays and interacting with digital content through contact lenses raises concerns about distraction and virtual reality sickness. Additionally, privacy issues arise with the potential for these lenses to record and transmit data.
Progress in the Market
Despite the challenges and market uncertainties, progress in AR contact lenses continues, albeit slowly. Companies like Meta and Apple are investing heavily in mixed reality development. Tech developers are working on miniaturizing screens and chips, and new vendors are entering the AR market with fresh ideas.
Significant advancements are occurring in healthcare applications. Researchers from NTU Singapore have developed a flexible battery powered by saline solution, potentially eliminating the need for toxic materials and bulky wiring. Blink Energy is also making strides with a system that powers smart lenses through an ergonomic patch placed on the eyelid.
When Will Augmented Reality Contact Lenses Appear?
While progress is being made, it’s gradual. We can’t predict exactly when AR contact lenses will hit the market, or if they ever will. At MWC 2024, XR display team XPANCEO showcased prototypes with advanced XR capabilities, hinting at future possibilities.
These prototypes suggested features like health monitoring and immersive content interaction. XPANCEO aims to develop an all-in-one smart contact lens by 2026, but success is not guaranteed. Many companies have tried and failed in the past.
AR Lenses: The Future of Augmented Reality?
The future of AR contact lenses is uncertain. Innovators need access to the right technology, funding, and market demand to succeed. However, similar skepticism surrounded mixed reality headsets and VR systems in the past, and yet progress in the XR space continues to surprise us.
One day, AR lenses might be as common as AR glasses, or they might find their place in the healthcare landscape, helping opticians address visual issues. Regardless, the AR market will keep evolving, offering new experiences and possibilities we once only imagined.
Source: https://www.xrtoday.com/augmented-reality/augmented-reality-contact-lenses-will-they-ever-be-a-reality/