The Bionic Contact Lens A Look into the

The “Bionic” Contact Lens: A Look into the Future Group 1 Jonathan Danforth Lindsay Young Dillon Smith

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.

Potential Advancements Driving Directions On-the-Job Instruction Aiding Visual Impairment

Potential Advancements (cntd. ) n 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. n Monitoring of human biological conditions -cholesterol level or the presence of viruses and bacteria that transmits the data wirelessly to a computer.

Potential Advancements (cntd. ) n 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.

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.

Powering the “Bionic Lens” n At the present time, powering of the “bionic” contact lens is not yet been accomplished. n 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.

Potential Hazards n Complicated Materials used for Construction n 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

References n 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/uweekarticle. asp? article. ID=39100 n Jackson, Joab. (Jan 29, 2008) “Bionic” Contact Lens May Create Tiny Personal Displays. National Geographic News. http: //news. nationalgeographic. com/news/2008/01/080129 -bioniceye. html n Metzger, Patrick. (Jan 8, 2007) Nanotechnology: Small science generates big questions. CBC News In Depth: Science. http: //www. cbc. ca/news/background/science/nanotechnology. html

References n Penland, Jack. (Feb 22, 2008) Bionic Contact Lenses. Scien. Central. http: //www. sciencentral. com/video/2008/02/22/bionic-contactlenses/ n Staedter, Tracy. (Feb 5, 2008) ‘Bionic Lens’ Adds Computing Power to Sight. Discovery News: Discovery Channel. http: //dsc. discovery. com/news/2008/02/05/bionic-contact-lens. html