3D printed contact lenses with built-in AR based navigation might be on the way, say experts

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and a few others are investing in the metaverse, which some are calling the next major technological revolution. It is a virtual environment with real-world features, made possible by massive mixed-reality headgear. However, things might change shortly. A group of experts has created technology that can be used to 3D print smart contact lenses with augmented reality (AR) navigation.

According to sources, the technique can combine AR capabilities by employing a 3D printer to build micro-patterns on a lens display without applying power. According to the study team, the major intended application area is navigation.

Uses for smart contact lenses:

People will be able to just wear these lenses, and navigation will unfold in front of their eyes thanks to augmented reality (AR). The team also stated that games like ‘Pokemon Go’ can be enjoyed using smart contact lenses rather than smartphones.

According to reports, the technique was created by a research team at KERI led by Dr. Seol Seung-Kwon and another team from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) led by Professor Lim-Doo Jeong.

Companies such as Google have recently claimed to be creating smart contact lenses for displays that can use AR. However, because of severe technological constraints, they are encountering commercialization challenges.

Mojo Vision, a US-based firm, exhibited a functioning prototype of smart contact lenses with a miniature LED display and medical-grade micro-batteries last year. The Mojo lens is a fully self-contained smart lens with a Micro LED display with 14,000 pixels per inch and a diameter of only 0.2 inches (0.5mm). However, the firm stated that it was cutting off 75% of its employees, putting the development on hold.

FAQs

Q1. What is augmented reality?
Augmented reality (AR) is the utilisation of information in the form of text, visuals, music, and other virtual upgrades that are combined with real-world items in real-time.

Q2. What are the uses of smart contact lenses?
According to reports, people will be able to just wear these lenses, and navigation will unfold in front of their eyes thanks to augmented reality (AR).