Nano Contact Lenses
Nano Contact Lenses
Another area of Nano Technology research looks to marry together "Augmented Reality" with the contact lense.
Augmented Reality devices (already availble on many Smart Phones) overlay graphical displays over real-time video footage of the world around. For instance, a user might use his or her mobile phone camera to look around an unfamiliar city. The picture they see on the phone screen will be overlaid with helpful directions and annotations that change according to the direction of the camera.
Obviously - a mobile phone camera has a limited field of view. A contact lens display, on the other hand can have a much wider field of view, and would not have to be held.
The construction of these devices involves embedding nanoscale and microscale electronic devices in substrates like paper or plastic. The device requires about 300 microwatts but doesn't need a battery. Instead, a loop antenna picks up power beamed from a nearby radio source. All these components can be integrated into the lens without obscuring the wearer's view.