A Korean research collaboration has developed core technology for smart contact lenses that can implement augmented reality (AR)-based navigation using 3D printing.
A Korean research collaboration has developed core technology for smart contact lenses that can implement augmented reality (AR)-based navigation using 3D printing.
The team from the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) and the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) printed micro-patterns on a lens display using a 3D printer without applying voltage and using a metal-organic coordinated compound called Prussian blue.
The micro-pattern technology is fine enough to be applied to smart contact lens displays for AR, and the colour is continuous and uniform.
The main expected application area is navigation, where simply wearing the contact lens would allow AR navigation in front of a person’s eyes.
In a news release,1 Dr Seol Seung-Kwon of KERI said, “Our achievement is a development of 3D printing technology that can print functional micro-patterns on non-planner substrates that can commercialise advanced smart contact lenses to implement AR.
“It will greatly contribute to the miniaturisation and versatility of AR devices.”
The research results were published in Advanced Science.2
References
- www.eurekalert.org/newsreleases/ 979502.
- Kim, J.H. et al., Meniscus-guided micro-printing of prussian blue for smart electrochromic display, Advanced Science, 28 Nov 2022: doi.org/10.1002/ advs.202205588.
