It was 2011 when the third episode of Black Mirror was released in which the protagonists of the story had an eye device capable of carrying out various activities, including recording all the moments of their day.
Today, the company Blink Energy, an Israeli startup operating in the field of bioengineering, has developed the BlinkIT prototype. Blink aims to power and connect smart eye devices.
BlinkIT is an ergonomic patch located on the inside of the crease of the eye. The device applied to the eyelid connected to the contact lens can project objects in augmented reality to the wearer’s view. The patch provides power and transmits images to the lenses wirelessly, thanks to a specially miniaturized curved LED screen.
The first version of the device is capable of projecting received text messages onto the mobile phone. The main obstacles of this device are related to autonomy and comfort of use.
In conclusion, the design of this ocular device represents the beginning of a technological era seen only in TV series, which has become reality. However, as we dive deeper and deeper into the promising frontier of the human-machine interface based on visual biometrics, it is important to also consider the ethical implications and privacy challenges that may emerge. Only by integrating a responsible and ethically conscious approach to the design and implementation of these technologies, we can ensure that the advent of these innovations brings tangible and sustainable benefits for the whole of society.
Watch the video here: BLINK ENERGY su LinkedIn: Enabling a New Era of Connected Ocular Devices
Written by Sara Pia Votta