'Smart' contact lens under development

US start-up company Mojo Vision is building what it claims is the world’s first true smart contact lens, called the Mojo Lens.

The Mojo Lens is a contact lens with a built-in display that gives people the information they want without forcing them to look down at a screen or losing focus on the people and the world around them. The company calls this eyes-up experience ‘Invisible Computing’ — a platform that enables information to be instantaneous, unobtrusive and available hands-free, and should allow people to interact with each other more freely and genuinely.

The Mojo Lens is designed to be useful in many different situations, from consumer to enterprise. In businesses and organisations, it is being designed to give workers or specialists access to real-time information, improving productivity, precision and compliance without having to look down at a mobile device or through an awkward, vision-blocking headset that limits situational awareness or discourages social interactions.

Additionally, Mojo Vision is planning an early application of the product designed to help people struggling with low vision through enhanced image overlays. This application is designed to provide real-time contrast and lighting enhancements as well as zoom functionality. With its inconspicuous contact lens form factor, Mojo Lens would serve as a low vision aid that could remain discreet for the wearer and allow a hands-free experience, while delivering enhanced functional vision to assist in mobility, reading and sighting.

The Mojo Lens incorporates a number of breakthroughs, according to the company, including the smallest and densest dynamic display ever made, the world’s most power-efficient image sensor optimised for computer vision, a custom wireless radio, and motion sensors for eye-tracking and image stabilisation. It also includes the Mojo Vision 14K PPI Display, said to deliver a world-record pixel pitch of over 14,000 ppi and a pixel density of over 200 Mppi² — believed to make it the smallest, densest display ever designed for dynamic or moving content.

Mojo Vision holds patents critical to the development of an augmented reality (AR) smart contact lens dating back over 10 years, yet its product development plans had previously remained in stealth. The company is currently demonstrating a working prototype of the device, conducting feasibility clinical studies for R&D iteration purposes under an Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval.

“After extensive research, development and testing, we are excited to reveal our product plans and begin sharing details about this transformative platform,” said Mojo Vision CEO Drew Perkins. “Mojo has a vision for Invisible Computing where you have the information you want when you want it and are not bombarded or distracted by data when you don’t. The technology should be helpful, and it should be available in the moment and fade away when you want to focus on the world around you.

“The Mojo Lens is the first step in delivering Invisible Computing to the world. We look forward to sharing more information and demonstrating future prototypes as we get closer to bringing our product to market.”

Image credit: Mojo Vision.

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