Contact lens TV in 10 years?

Wed Feb 11, 2009 11:31AM EST

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Oh, the bother of having to be near an actual television when you want to watch a program! Researchers say those dark days may soon be behind us: Contact lenses that can beam video programming right into your eyeball may be just 10 years away from reality.

Ian Pearson, a futurist (not an engineer, mind you), says that body heat would provide all the energy needed to power the high-tech lenses. And that's not all: "Digital tattoos" could also be developed to allow wearers to literally feel the emotions that the director wants you to feel. Per the piece: "This would allow James Bond fans to feel the thrill of outdoing the enemy or sports fans to experience the elation of jubilant players."

Color me skeptical: Ten years seems like an awfully short time horizon for these developments. The technology for injecting an emotional state (er... legally and safely) via a skin patch is awfully out there, and contact lens TV suffers from the problem that the eye simply can't focus on objects that close to it. Some sort of projection system or complicated light-focusing arrangement could be a solution, but both of those technologies in a device the size of a contact lens are, again, currently far-fetched. People may also feel a bit squeamish about dropping a television into their eye socket... not to mention placing their emotional well-being in the hands of Hollywood.

The closest we can get to eyeball TV today? Head-mounted displays like the Vuzix line of "video eyewear." Throw in a super-sized Mountain Dew to simulate "the elation of jubilant players" and you're halfway to the future.

Image credit: University of Washington

Comments on Contact lens TV in 10 years?

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  • 6 Posted by alexgannis on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sorry to say chris but k5ws is right this is a crapy review and it point less find something else better to review.

  • 7 Posted by brandicatanderson on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:12PM EDT Report Abuse

    First of all, this idea is the most far out there thing I've ever heard. Second, I paid over three grand for Lasik vision correction so I wouldn't have to fool with putting a little plastic pain-in-the-butt disk in my eye anymore.

  • 8 Posted by kevin.rohr on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    Hopefully the contacts will be digital ready or I will need to buy converter hearing aide

  • 9 Posted by fonz3480 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:01PM EDT Report Abuse

    The digital tattoo seems far fetched, not to mention wrong in numerous ways...however, i can more easily envision the tv-contact idea. Who's to say that cars or other devices in the future won't be computer controlled-type in destination and the car will take care of the rest-leaving passengers to enjoy a movie, rest, or talk on their cell phones...

  • 10 Posted by alfradio on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:50PM EDT Report Abuse

    According to "futurists" back in the 50s, by now we should al be driving to work in jet cars... No thanks to in your face (err, EYE) TV (reminds me of the CBS eye) and agree with the emotional stimulation.... but as crapdirector stated, "The digital/emotional tattoos seems wrong for so many reason!! I would never let someone artificially control my emotions." (okay, maybe if I was watching some porn! ;)

  • 11 Posted by orestm on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:46PM EDT Report Abuse

    this is great! with the "digital tattoos" TV producers don't have to bother to make good shows anymore! Just make us feel happy through the tattoo and we'll enjoy any garbage they make!

  • 12 Posted by seanrbuckman on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    The author complete contradicts himself in saying that the eye cannot focus on something that close by mentioning the video eyeware. This is easily overcome by focusing the light right on the retina and is not only completely possible but has already been proven to work via the video eyeware. The eye cannot focus on anything within a couple inches of the eye unless the image is projected right on the retina. DUH Not only that but we have proven that circuits can be printed on plastic, making this new item a reality and 10 years is completely viable.

  • 13 Posted by rb_tech on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sigh ... 10 more years of trying to hide solitare on the monitor from the boss.

  • 14 Posted by sherylw9 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't think a centact lens tv would be practical, why would anyone want to but a contact in their eye to watch tv with all the other options out there. The market would be very small. A more practical use of this technology (and I think 10 years is very optimistic) would be adaptable contact lenses, that adjust to the distance you are focusing, to light levels, etc. Possibly lenses that allow soldiers and/or police to see in infrared. The digital tattoos would probably be far more popular in the reverse, programmed to change with your emotions rather than changing your emotions.

  • 15 Posted by cfplan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    Sounds like other fantastical crap: by the year 2000 we'll all have flying cars like the Jetsons!

  • 16 Posted by sportsmovieguy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:37PM EDT Report Abuse

    I share crapdirector's phobia.. I can't bring myself to touch my own eye. TV screen on my glasses that would be great. As for driving while watching TV... It's already being done. If it wasn't TV distracting drivers... it would be texting... or it would be talking on the phone... or it would be putting on make up... or it would be eating and drinking... trying to console screaming kids... reading a book or newspaper... talking to someone else in the car... changing a disc in the CD player... or manually changing the radio... People will have something to distract them, we just need to develop some common sense.

  • 17 Posted by rbones13 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Why have contact lenses? Just develop a way to plug directly into the brain, ala the Matrix.

  • 18 Posted by gymrat1869 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    They can't even switch from analog to digital t.v. without like 15 extensions....this was supposed to happen back in the 90's....digital tv. I will believe it when i see it as far as the contact lens tv.

  • 19 Posted by tripwwe on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:21PM EDT Report Abuse

    wonder if this thing can explode into your eyeballs if it overheats lol

  • 20 Posted by rolandma12 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:49PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think this only means the technology will be available in 10 years, doesn't necessarily mean commercially available to everyone to purchase. Like the space shuttle, is available now, but other than the government run program, not even private company will try to buy and/or launch one for commercial or fun.

  • 21 Posted by trader9059 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    Digital emotional tats hmmm..., think of the fun we adults might have watching our favorite late nite movies in the bed room with our significant other LOL not to loud, don't want to wake the kids.

  • 22 Posted by nelsonrherron@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    so i can sit in a banal, boring meeting and watch equally banal, boring tv, right? and i'll pay money to do this, right. let me belly right up to that bar. i think the eyeball scene from andalusian dogs might be a better use of the eyeball. or is it the disappearing pen scene in dark knight? next we'll be treated to i'net videos of rarw books and dead people.

  • 24 Posted by movie_alien on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    I don't trust people who call themselves futurists. There are far too many factors to consider even a remotely acurate guess for a year from now, let alone ten years. Let the world unravel the way it is meant to and leave the future for the science fiction writers. At least they aren't claiming to be legitimate.

  • 25 Posted by s_keltner on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    If that lens is a prototype, it looks awfully hard to actualy see where I'm walking through.

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