DARPA works on ‘virtual reality’ contact lenses

February 2, 2012 | Source: Information Week
DARPAlens

(Credit: Innovega)

The Defense Advanced Research Projects (DARPA) agency is working with Innovega to create  wearable contact lenses with tiny, full-color displays that digital images can be projected onto to give the wearers better situational awareness in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) activities, according to the agency.

iOptiks are contact lenses that enhance normal vision by allowing a wearer to view virtual and augmented reality images without the need for f oversized virtual reality helmets,

Digital images are projected onto tiny full-color displays on the contact lenses. This allows users to focus simultaneously on close-up and far away objects while sill interacting with the surrounding environment.