Google has recently announced a partnership with the Swiss drug company Novartis to develop their new smart contact lenses. These lenses are designed to not only improve the wearers vision, but monitor their health as well.
Earlier this year, Google had revealed their first smart lens prototype: a lens with a miniature glucose sensor and wireless transmitter to help the world’s diabetics. Now, together with their new partner, they will be developing a series of non-invasive microchips and sensors to be imbedded into the lens, capable of monitoring glucose levels from tears.
There are many other applications that they are starting to pursue as well. Recently, a patent was filed for embedding microscopic cameras into contact lenses, enabling the wearer to take photographs of what their direct vision can see. They also plan to use this to assist blind users, being able to analyze pictures taken to warn them of approaching danger, such as a busy road.
This is just a few of the ways that Google is trying to miniaturize electronic devices and bring them to the consumer. However, while these lenses are an innovative design, they are still very young in the development process. Sources say it will take about five years before they are ready to reach consumers.
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