Bionic Eyes, Rethinking (again) the Future of Displays
By Ryan Tuttle on Thursday, January 17th, 2008Being a futurist, or attempting to be, I have to constantly change the way in which I think about things. One thing I have been challenging people on of late is the concept of one device with multiple display options. i.e. In 2011 my iPhone will have a normal screen (like it is now), then a screen 5 times the size that I unscroll (via lcd paper) for a more engaging experience … then when I want to watch a movie at home off the same device I’ll just plug it into my projector (or big monitor, or whatever). One device, multiple display options.
Get it? Now that you’re all caught up, trash that idea because it it old news.
I found this on Slashdot a few minutes ago like most of you:
“A University of Washington researcher has developed a contact lens including circuitry and a matrix of LEDs. Although not yet a working prototype, this may be a foundation for terminator/robocop style overlay displays in which computer graphics could be superimposed on your normal vision. ‘Building the lenses was a challenge because materials that are safe for use in the body, such as the flexible organic materials used in contact lenses, are delicate. Manufacturing electrical circuits, however, involves inorganic materials, scorching temperatures and toxic chemicals. Researchers built the circuits from layers of metal only a few nanometers thick, about one thousandth the width of a human hair, and constructed light-emitting diodes one third of a millimeter across.’”
So now I’m rethinking everything, again. NOW how will I design web sites when one pair of contact lens can display anything, at any size (relatively), to any user from any device?
It will happen. The contacts will be directly on the eye so they will be able to generate an image appropriate for the situation (a small icon in the bottom left to signify voice mail, or “full screen” to play a movie… at any “size” I choose). Also consider that my contacts can sync up with Bluetooth 6.7 to my phone (which is also my computer by 2017), my home system, “Billy” (that’s what I call the AI that runs my house), or my friends XBox when we are playing Call of Duty 12 in multiple player mode.
One display, multiple display sizes, multiple devices … you caught up yet?
Oh, and the contacts will be free if you sign up for one of the ad channels that display ads on your eyes as you walk through the mall.
I’m just going to keep commenting till someone else does…
Was thinking about this topic more this morning and I don’t know how far off high quality display-contacts will be, but it could make us interact in all new ways. A few things I’m mulling over:
1. True 3D. In the race to create a truly 3D image, stereoscopic displays will have the edge.
2. I see what you see… what if your contacts can duplicate what my contacts are seeing?
3. Pretty people… I’ll turn on my “people enhancer” that makes everyone I look at a little prettier. When I look at Dave Church he will have long flowing hair and that nasty ’stache he was sporting the other day will be digitally removed.
Think about it.
This is fascinating stuff. It was only a matter of time, right?
The pretty people idea is fantastic. Reminds me Shallow Hal, without the Tony Robbins.
Oh this is deja-vu in a sense… A few months ago Wired had a very well done “Artifacts from the Future” still-life showing disposable contacts doing exactly this… “Now with Google SmartLoad!”
http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/14.07/images/found.jpg
Forget the contacts - when will the purple fingers be available to the public?
My guess is that we will finally be able to stick a stake in the heart of “traditional” advertising when your vision of the future becomes a reality. The interactive marketers of today are most likely to be positioned to capitalize on the coming technologies…
I read this here on your blog a while back, and passed to several people ophthalmologists that I know here in the Atlanta area.
The evolution of the lens is incredible, but even more is the mixture and use of technology. I am not a lens wearer, however, I do wonder what the comfort level will be?
This sure to change the technology world around us!