The

1
The Bionic Contact LensA Look into the Future

• Group 1
• Jonathan Danforth
• Lindsay Young
• Dillon Smith

2
The Bionic Contact Lens

• Researchers at the University of Washington
  created a flexible, biologically safe contact
  lens using nanotechnology in hopes of creating
  personal displays similar to those used in movies
  such as Terminator or Bionic Woman.
• Looking through the bionic contact lens, you
  would see the display superimposed on the real
  world.

3
Potential Advancements

• Driving Directions
• On-the-Job Instruction
• Aiding Visual Impairment

4
Potential Advancements (cntd.)

• Such virtual displays could be useful to drivers
  and pilots, who could obtain route, weather, or
  vehicle status information shown on the
  windshield of the airplane.
• Monitoring of human biological conditions --
  cholesterol level or the presence of viruses and
  bacteria that transmits the data wirelessly to a
  computer.

5
Potential Advancements (cntd.)

• Miniature cameras with adaptive lenses could be
  incorporated which have the ability to zoom in on
  something far away or to look at something very
  close -- providing, essentially, bionic vision.

6
Construction

• Electric circuit with red light-emitting diodes
  creates the display imbedded within the contact
  lens
• Researchers built the circuits from layers of
  thin metal only a few nanometers thick and
  constructed light-emitting diodes one third of a
  millimeter across. They then sprinkled the
  grayish powder of electrical components onto a
  sheet of flexible plastic.

7
Powering the Bionic Lens

• At the present time, powering of the bionic
  contact lens is not yet been accomplished.
• Scientists are exploring coils that harvest radio
  frequency energy. In experiments a large coil is
  used that creates a magnetic field. When the lens
  is inside that magnetic field, the coils in the
  lens generate electrical current.

8
Potential Hazards

• Complicated Materials used for Construction
• Toxicity of Chemicals when used on Larger Scale
• "The hazard studies that have been done show
  evidence that nanomaterials have the potential to
  cause oxidative damage, to punch holes in cell
  membranes, to kill cells in culture, and to have
  harmful impacts on populations in ecosystems.
• --Kristen Kulinowski, Director of the
  International Council on Nanotechnology at Rice
  University

9
References

• Hickey, Hannah. (Jan 17, 2008) Bionic eyes
  Contact lenses with circuits, lights a possible
  platform for superhuman vision. University Week
  News and Features for the University of
  Washington Community. http//uwnews.org/uweek/uwee
  karticle.asp?articleID39100
• Jackson, Joab. (Jan 29, 2008) Bionic Contact
  Lens May Create Tiny Personal Displays. National
  Geographic News. http//news.nationalgeographic.co
  m/news/2008/01/080129-bionic-eye.html
• Metzger, Patrick. (Jan 8, 2007) Nanotechnology
  Small science generates big questions. CBC News
  In Depth Science. http//www.cbc.ca/news/backgrou
  nd/science/nanotechnology.html

10
References

• Penland, Jack. (Feb 22, 2008) Bionic Contact
  Lenses. ScienCentral. http//www.sciencentral.com/
  video/2008/02/22/bionic-contact-lenses/
• Staedter, Tracy. (Feb 5, 2008) Bionic Lens Adds
  Computing Power to Sight. Discovery News
  Discovery Channel. http//dsc.discovery.com/news/2
  008/02/05/bionic-contact-lens.html