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Innovation

New technology could deliver text messages via contact lens

Researchers have created a liquid crystal display that can be embedded in contact lenses and displays images and words via wireless.
Written by Laura Shin, Contributor

Liquid crystal displays are no longer just for TVs, computers and other gadgets.

Researchers at Ghent University in Belgium have developed a new technology that allows LCD displays to show text on the spherical, small circle of a contact lens. And it can project images using wireless technology.

This means that you could someday receive text messages via contact lens -- just the way they do in sci-fi films.

"Now that we have established the basic technology, we can start working towards real applications, possibly available in only a few years," Professor Herbert De Smet told The Telegraph.

Other possible applications are to create contact lenses that are made of one pixel that fully covers the lens so the lenses can act as adaptable sunglasses. Or, the lenses could be used to give directions, or to help protect damaged irises by controlling the amount of light that enters the retina.

The contact lenses could even be used for cosmetic purposes: to change the color of the iris.

Watch the video below to see the contact lens and its display in action.

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via: The Telegraph

photo: screenshot

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com

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