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Google has designed an eye-tech contact lens which could provide hope for millions of blind people.
The ingenious invention contains a tiny computer with a “superzoom” feature that can magnify objects allowing users to “see”.
A built-in camera can process images while a super-smart microchip then analyses the data to inform the wearer of any approaching objects.
The concept is in its early stages, but intellectual property blog Patent Bolt believes the smart contact lens could one day be used to benefit the 180 million people worldwide who are blind or visually impaired. They said: “A blind person wearing Google’s contact lens may want to cross the road. The analysis component of the lens can process raw image data of the camera to determine if a car is approaching.”
Google also says the lens will be able to detect faces and its wireless capabilities can link it up to mobile phones and other devices.
It comes after Google developed a smart contact lens for diabetics, which analyses tears to warn users if their sugar levels are low.
Announcing their breakthrough last month, founders Babak Parviz and Brian Otis said: “We hope this could one day lead to a new way for diabetics to manage their disease.”
