Smart contact lens communication achieved

According to UW, smart contact lenses are constrained by power dands due to their size and location within the body, and so far have not been able to send data to smartphones and other mobile devices via conventional wireless transmissions.However, a team of UW electrical engineers and computer scientists have been able to facilitate an exchange of information between devices by reflecting existing signals.{{quote-A:R-W:450-Q:Beyond implanted devices, the researchers also donstrated that the technology could be applied to other applications such as smart credit cards.}}The process, which converts Bluetooth signals into wi-fi transmissions over the air, uses a communication technique called backscatter, and because it enables inter-technology communication, the team has labelled the new technique ‘interscattering’.The researchers built three proof-of-concept donstrations for previously infeasible applications, including a smart contact lens and an implantable neural recording device that was able to communicate directly with smartphones and watches.One of the research team mbers, Mr Vikram Iyer, said, “Wireless connectivity for implanted devices can transform how we manage chronic diseases. For example, a contact lens could monitor a diabetic’s blood sugar level in tears and send notifications to the phone when the blood sugar level goes down.”Beyond implanted devices, the researchers also donstrated that the technology could be applied to other applications such as smart credit cards.“Providing the ability for these everyday objects like credit cards – in addition to implanted devices – to communicate with mobile devices can unleash the power of ubiquitous connectivity,” computer science and engineering Assistant Professor Shyam Gollakota said.