1. BIONIC CONTACT LENS
Bionic contact lenses are being developed to provide a virtual display that could
have a variety of uses from assisting the visually impaired to the video game
industry. Bion means unit of life and ic meaning like, hence it is like life. The
device will have the form of conventional contact lens with
added bionics technology. The lens will eventually have functional electronic
circuits and infrared lights to create a virtual display.
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.
Construction
The lenses require organic materials that are biologically safe and also use
inorganic material for the electronic circuits. The electronic circuits are built from
a layer of metal a few nanometers thick. The light-emitting diodes are one third of
a millimeter across. A grey powder is sprinkled onto the lens. Then a technique
called micro fabrication or ‘self-assembly’ is used to shape each tiny component.
Capillary forces pull the pieces into their final position.
The technology was trialed at the University of Washington in Seattle, and
currently they’re safe and feasible, but lacking a good power source and only have
a single-pixel display.
The device is still best characterized as a prototype. The micro circuitry only is
enough to supportone light-emitting diode.
Applications
Scientist believes that, this could serve as a flexible plastic platform for application
such as surfing the internet on virtual screen, immersing gamers in virtual worlds
and monitoring patient medical conditions.

2. 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.
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.
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.”
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