A research team from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) and the Korea Industrial Electronics Research Center (KERI) has developed technology to 3D-print smart contact lenses that can implement augmented reality-based navigation. .
Currently, research on these lenses is mainly focused on the diagnosis and treatment of health problems. In parallel, Google and other companies are also developing smart contact lenses for screens that can implement augmented reality features. However, there are technical obstacles that hinder its commercial availability.
3D printed smart contact lenses with built-in navigation
To implement augmented reality smart contact lenses, electrochromic displays are needed that can work with low power and “pure Prussian blue” color, with cost competitiveness and fast contrast and transition between colors, is attracting attention as a material of the lens.
Technology that can realize augmented reality by printing micro-patterns onto a lens screen using a 3D printer without applying voltage is a key achievement of the KERI-UNIST research team. The key is the used ink meniscus, a phenomenon in which a curved surface is formed on the outer wall without the water droplets bursting due to capillary action when the water droplets are gently pressed or pulled with some pressure.
The research team’s micro-pattern technology is very fine (7.2 micrometers) and can be applied to smart contact lens displays for augmented reality, as the color is continuous and uniform. The expected primary application area is navigation. By simply using a lens, navigation tools are presented in front of a person’s eyes via augmented reality.
The results of the investigation were published as cover story in Advanced Science. The research team believes that this achievement will attract a lot of attention from companies related to batteries and biosensors that require Prussian blue micropatterns, as well as the field of augmented reality technology development,
The research team believes that this augmented reality smart contact lens technology has the potential to revolutionize the way people interact with the world around them. Instead of having to search for information on a screen, people could simply wear their contact lenses to get real-time information as they go about their daily activities. This could have a significant impact on a wide range of industries, including medicine, education, the entertainment industry, and advertising.
For example, smart contact lenses could be used by doctors to make more accurate diagnoses and to guide them during surgical procedures. They could also be used by students to learn in a more interactive and dynamic way. In the entertainment industry, smart contact lenses could be used to create immersive augmented reality experiences that surpass anything currently available on the market. Also, in the field of advertising, smart contact lenses could allow advertisers to reach their customers in a more direct and personalized way.
As well as possible use cases, it is also important to highlight that the systems under which this technology operates, once it is presented as a commercially available solution to the public, must provide the necessary privacy guarantees to their users, with such to transmit the necessary confidence so that they provide their utility in an ethical and responsible manner.
