Imagine this: you’re cycling around London, but you get lost. Instead of stopping and whipping out Google Maps, the directions appear live right in front of you. Can’t quite see what that sign says? No problem, just zoom in (no binoculars required). Play Augmented Reality (AR) without needing a bulky headset, integrating with your immediate surroundings.
This is not science fiction or a blockbuster Tom Cruise movie. It’s real life; these are hi-tech contact lenses that will be shipped within the next decade, if not earlier. The technology is in an advanced stage, big companies have massive contracts in place, and working prototypes have already been made. Mojo Vision is already in the finishing phase of making smart lenses that will not only repair but provide an augmented vision; while there is a rumor other big tech names will join the show (more on that later).
The potential of the tech is not trivial. From medicine to video games, “smart” contact lenses will become your smartphone plus. Instead of lugging around a block in your pocket or purse, you’ll have everything you need embedded in your contacts. This is how this clever piece of technology may change your life in the not too distant future.
Replacing Smartphone Technology
Let’s start with the first ‘level’, how contact lenses will be able to replace your smartphone for pretty much anything. Here are some common potential uses:
Video Games
AR gaming on mobile is slowly growing into a significant market. It’s still relatively small potatoes, but it’s had some major successes already. Remember Pokémon GO from 2016? It’s still going strong today, and had a bit of a revival in 2020 (with most people stuck to outdoor activities only for much of the year). Imagine playing the game without having to hold up your smartphone the whole time.
Here’s a gaming niche application you probably haven’t thought of: online gambling. Online casino websites already use all the tech available to them - they can land on your laptops, desktops, mobile phones, smartwatches, and VR glasses. But just imagine them being able to land directly on your eye. It’s not too big a stretch to picture casino affiliates around the world putting forward selections of online venues based on the best AR experience instead of rushing to provide players with lists of casinos with the best perks on mobile. Ranking factors, rather than game performance on your smartphones, would instead revolve around the hyper-boosted experience for the average player. How about slot machines where the characters leap out of the game? Conversely, you’d be able to play using an online alternative, using your surroundings as an integrated backdrop. What is certain - this is the tech that seriously threatens to replace smartphones. Mind blown.
Mapping
Already mentioned in the intro, but worth delving a little deeper. We’re pretty sure the Average Joe no longer knows how to read a paper map. Instead, the trusty Google Maps does the heavy lifting for us.
Now imagine being able to look at a map right in front of you. Directions would be given on your contact lenses, no need to do anything else. If you’re going the wrong way, the map can tell you. Or if you’re going into a no-go area (e.g. you’re accidentally going into a bike lane), you’ll get a flashing warning that you can’t ignore.
Shopping (of any kind)
How annoying is it to wait in line in your favorite shop? Very. Even if you have a whole day off, it is seemingly hard to wait for long just to buy one piece of clothing or to wait to see if that furniture you like will really fit your room.
Contact lenses with this new tech can make this a history. You’ll be able to see if the furniture you fancy really fits in real dimensions and ON your eye (forget about screens). You will also be able to check if that piece of clothing really fits you before even going to the store.
Novel Applications
But these smart contact lenses are more than just smartphone replacements. They have the potential to do so much more:
Night Vision
Night vision goggles are no longer required. With smart lenses, you can have night vision available without a clunky eyepiece. Mojo vision, currently in the middle of developing smart lenses, provided the BBC with a unique behind-the-scenes look at the technology.
Monitoring Health
Healthcare is often about monitoring and seeking medical attention at the right time. Smart lenses may help to make this a whole lot easier. Tech companies have already developed products that can monitor glucose levels; the embedding of a tiny chip into a lens makes this happen.
If someone’s blood sugar levels are precariously low or far too high, LEDs can be used to activate and notify the user to seek medical attention. This is not only a hands-free solution that you don’t even have to think about, but it also means you no longer need to draw blood to monitor glucose levels.
Big Players Joining In
Perhaps the biggest hint that this stuff is ‘real’ is the fact that big players are getting involved. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is going to release their very own line of smart lenses in about a decade. The company has already declared its launching of a mixed reality headset in 2022, with AR glasses following by 2025. Google is also working with companies using smart lenses to develop solutions for the medical field, which may revolutionize the healthcare industry.
In short: this stuff will be available on the market before you know it, and it’s worth investing in. Just a few short years ago, smart lenses seemed like a futuristic notion, something from a book or television. Tech, however, tends to develop a lot faster than we can imagine.
