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    The Sideshow

    Researchers developing “wearable computer” for your eyes

    The day may soon be upon us where we trade in our iPad for an EyePad. Researchers at the University of Washington are developing contact lenses that have wireless Internet connectivity.

    So far, the UW researchers have been testing the lenses on rabbits, with no adverse effects to the animals; once the devices are fully tested and found safe for human use, the idea will be to use them to transmit personal medical information from a patient to a hospital. But the eye-embedded computer could have countless other practical applications, allowing the lens to serve as tiny smartphones that could transmit phone calls, GPS data and social media.

    Currently, most smartphones are already equipped with limited "augmented reality" functions--which one can readily envision as the natural progression for applications associated with future wirelessly enabled lenses.

    The development is far closer to reality than you might think. UW researchers say there are already usable versions contact lenses with sensors capable of detecting glucose levels, adjusting light levels and sending radio signals.

    You can watch the UW researchers explaining their project in the video above.

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    • Charlie  •  Los Angeles, California  •  5 mths ago
      Pretty cool but they should have glasses, instead of contact lens like that and make it unbreakable.
    • Jesse M  •  Boynton Beach, United States  •  6 mths ago
      So advertisements will start scrolling across my eyeball, some perv will be watching porn while looking at girls, will I go blind if I go through a tunnel and drop service, and last but not least, do I have to sign a two year contract?
      • caligirl 6 mths ago
        LMAO! That's totally what I was thinking. Only if you sign the contract with AT&T.
      • BT 6 mths ago
        @Caligirl, or Direct TV if I might add... ;-)
      • He Is 6 mths ago
        lol
    • Elindriel  •  Mililani, United States  •  6 mths ago
      i see alot more accidents due to people paying more attention to internet on their contacts rather then driving. i'd wear it!
      • JJistheone 6 mths ago
        Not if they make it illegal like cell phone use is while driving!
    • A Yahoo! User  •  5 mths ago
      worse case scenario??? it turns into the mark of benedict
    • tokindaddy  •  Port Ewen, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Today's science fiction is tomorrows realities
      • El Magnifico 6 mths ago
        With no practical applications!
      • JDS 6 mths ago
        El... trust me... there are tons... but that's okay... you probably wouldn't understand them anyways.
    • Jan  •  Utrecht, Netherlands  •  6 mths ago
      I'd rather have a PC in my glasses, so i don't get damaged that much if it would malfunction or the government decides to pull the plug on it.
      And it'd go best with my look.
      • Aita 6 mths ago
        Look into the Eyetap, then. It's a canadian wearcomp research project that's awesome ^__^
    • Cc  •  6 mths ago
      What ever happened to "if you sit too close to the screen you'll go blind" *snerk* ;) That said - as a full time IT professional with 15 years on the job, I would never go for something like this if I had a choice. After stareing at one of these boxes for 40+ hours a week - I like to UNPLUG when/where I can. YMMV.
      • JJistheone 6 mths ago
        I'm pretty sure they are going to make it work somehow. This is an ENTIRELY different era from the t.v., so yeah. And just because you aren't genius enough to figure it out, DOESN'T mean its not possible, or that your professional exeperience means anything, so please, just shut up.
      • Cc 6 mths ago
        Wow. ?Lost your sense of humor much? Not saying I can't see how one of these would be made, just that I would probably opt not to use one. YMMV. Try to have a better day.
    • bluedragongirl  •  Gloversville, United States  •  6 mths ago
      if you can go on the internet with it.....what about viruses? this scares me I won't be investing. Cool thought though!
    • Say 10  •  Springfield, United States  •  6 mths ago
      They've already featured this on an episode of 'futurama' about2 years ago - it turns out that the ultimate goal for the creator 'mom' was to make all 'eyephone' wearers into zombies that would simply go and buy the new and more expensive model!
    • Anne  •  6 mths ago
      I've already told people I know that I have LONG foreseen people using portable computers JUST like this. They can have nanotech sensors in their nailpolish, jewelry, etc and be able to control the computer images that way (imagine, if you will, a "touch-screen" in midair, with no actual touching at all). Also, they can use the eye-sensitive and brainwave-reading methods that are currently used by paralyzed people to type and control computers. No more hand-held ANYthing-- the ultimate in wearable technology. Some of the comments here have made some VERY good and important points about "how will we know if people are using it", or "how will we keep people from misusing and/or being distracted by it." These are very important questions which should NOT get lost as the technology develops.
    • B.J.  •  Cincinnati, United States  •  5 mths ago
      eye-embedded? Ouch! Not!!
    • Baby Baa  •  5 mths ago
      So how do you look at different parts of an image that's stuck to your eyeball? It would be like trying to focus on a "floater" -- it would move away as your eyes turned towards it.
    • Kimmie  •  Sacramento, United States  •  5 mths ago
      I don't think I'm ready to turn my body into a computer...technology needs to slow down a little..
    • Lefty  •  Campbell, United States  •  6 mths ago
      I wonder if the rabbits cruised the net for Playboy Bunny pictures?
    • warpathwoman  •  6 mths ago
      My eyes are closed but I'm not sleepin'. I'm watching "Family Guy".
    • Malcolm  •  Los Angeles, United States  •  6 mths ago
      You wake up to a display , such as an alarm clock display. Dang it's 4pm, what happened last night. Who's clock is this ?
    • Kathryn  •  6 mths ago
      Medical information, you say? Cool! Another way for the government to spy on its citizens. Plus, now we can get eye cancer from the dang things - another bonus for big corp pharmaceuticals to get rich "searching" for a cure.
    • Privateer  •  Miami, United States  •  6 mths ago
      That Invention you are writing about is called "your mind" yes, things that your eyes see are translated into objects that have intrisic meaning some requiring applicible reactions., called an app. or an Idea.
    • Oscar  •  Denver, United States  •  6 mths ago
      retarded... all we need is more programmed-up monkeys walking around downtown clueless
    • Rita  •  Warren, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Look what could become reality and think of the effects it could have...not all of them are good...always telling us it's for our own good...what a lie!
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