Superhuman Contact Lenses

Innovega is a company located in Bellevue WA; their goal is to develop display technology using eye wear and contact lenses that enhances human vision allowing the user to simultaneously access digital media while remaining fully engaged in their normal everyday activities. Innovega's technologies will allow us to view virtual and augmented reality the same way we view our real world. This innovative technology will give us the opportunity to personalize, coordinate, and blend our virtual world with our real world.

The latest invention developed by Innovega is the iOptik contact lenses. These contact lenses look similar to regular contact lenses; except these little contacts contain a display screen that is located directly above the pupil of the eye. The actual contact contains many different filters that allows you to choose exactly what you want to see at any given time. The setup of the lens looks something like this:

The iOptik contact lenses allow us to view things that are near and far at the same time, so two different images can be viewed whiled our normal vision only allows us to view one single image at a time. The potential use of these contacts have been extensively considered by the Pentagon for military use. Steve Willey, CEO and Director of Innovega, says, "The dual focusing system could improve the awareness of soldiers in the field. The military could use it for simulation and training, covert ops, etc." The general population could use the dual focusing system to enjoy immersive games and have 3-D television all through these contact lenses. 

This new form of technology would change everything about the social world around us. Now, instead of seeing things how they actually are, we will see an enhanced version of everything. This will disable us from being in the moment, because we will constantly be viewing two things at once. With smart phones, iPads, and laptops, it already seems impossible to keep us in the moment, and these are items we can actually put away when need be. Eye contacts on the other hand are considered part of your self, which means they are on you everywhere you go. I do believe it would be of great use to the military but not for everyday use. The military could use these contact lenses as part of their gear when going into the field, this would allow them to be more aware of their surroundings. Being aware of your surroundings as a soldier is much useful than viewing a television screen and watching the birds at the same times. Innovega suggests that these lenses will allow us to prioritize our lives, but in reality we will be less tuned into what is going on. We will be constantly trying to do a minimum of two things at one time, making us less concentrated on one or the other. Before introducing iOptik contact lenses to the world, Innovega should consider who will in the end benefit from them and who will not. 

To read more about about the iOptik contact lenses you can view the attachments below:

Innovega Website: http://innovega-inc.com/

Mashable Article: http://mashable.com/2012/04/13/contact-lenses/

TechSilver Article: http://www.techsliver.com/ioptik-showcases-contact-lenses-that-give-you-superhuman-vision/