A California-based firm, Mojo Vision, has been creating intelligent contact lenses since 2015. Similar to smart glasses, the goal is to project practical augmented reality (AR) images in front of your eyes to assist in carrying out daily chores. Thanks to a working prototype, people are now closer to seeing a finished product.

This month, Mojo Vision CEO Drew Perkins announced in a blog post that they were the first to conduct an "on-eye demonstration of a feature-complete augmented reality smart contact lens." He said in a CNET interview that he wears just one contact at a time for intervals of an hour. According to the article, Mojo Vision eventually wants customers to be able to wear two Mojo Lens at once and generate 3D visual overlays.

While the technology is still far from perfect, Extreme Tech said Mojo Vision is making progress toward creating a practical device that may receive FDA clearance. To ensure users can wear the Mojo lens for longer periods without any problems, the business aims to conduct more clinical tests.

How Have Contact Lenses Been Improved Over the Years
(Photo : Adrian Gordon via Unsplash)

Mojo Vision's Augmented Reality Contact Lens Specs

The Mojo Lens' functional prototype was the result of more than six years' worth of labor and research, according to Myanmar's news website, The Star. The miniaturization of all embedded electronics, the development of new components, and the development of an altered user interface all posed significant obstacles. 

A MicroLED screen with a diameter of less than 0.5mm is placed inside the lens. An image-processing processor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer are also embedded in it.

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The lens also comes with micro-batteries to provide power. The whole interface is controlled only by eye movements and doesn't require hand motions.

Currently, the objective is to improve Mojo Lens through several testing phases and clinical trials to evaluate the functionality and offer input on software and apps. Once the lenses are fully developed, it will also be necessary to determine their practical applications.

An Engineering Challenge

Big Think emphasized the significance of the latest achievement. The engineering of creating a wearable augmented reality contact lens is quite challenging.

Typically, inquiries concerning display technology are made. While it is tricky to fit a high-quality display onto a tiny clear lens, it is not the most difficult aspect of the challenge.

The more challenging part is the lens size, which must fit comfortably on the human eye and be completely powered without any form of physical connection and capable of wireless communication with other devices. Even though it was a complex undertaking, Mojo Vision succeeded in completing it in their most recent presentation.

The prototype lens features medical-grade micro-batteries, according to Mojo Vision. Although the battery life of the present prototype is unknown, the business claims that the product's objective is power management that supports all-day wear.

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Check out more news and information on Augmented Reality in Science Times.