A battery charged by tears may make smart contact lenses a reality | Digital Trends
Smart contact lenses may be on the verge of becoming a reality thanks to a groundbreaking invention – a battery that can be charged by tears. This innovative battery is incredibly thin, measuring just 0.2mm in thickness, making it ideal for integration into standard contact lenses. The genius behind this invention is Lee Seok Woo, a scientist and associate professor at Nanyang Technological University’s School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering in Singapore. Inspired by the smart contact lenses featured in the movie Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, Lee has developed a battery that can be recharged using a biocompatible saline solution.
Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries found in phones and smartwatches, this new battery is powered by a saline solution, ensuring its safety for use in contact lenses. The recharging process is equally innovative – a glucose coating around the lens reacts with the saline solution, effectively charging the battery. Furthermore, the lenses can also be charged while worn, utilizing the glucose present in tears. This groundbreaking technology opens up the possibility of smart contact lenses that can be powered by the wearer’s own tears.
While the concept of smart contact lenses has been around for some time, significant advancements are being made in the field. The development of this ultra-thin battery brings us closer to a future where smart contact lenses are a reality. Although the current battery technology is still in the early stages and has limitations in terms of power output and duration, it represents a significant step forward in the quest for smart eyewear.
As we eagerly anticipate the arrival of smart contact lenses, it’s worth exploring other innovative technologies in the wearable tech space. While we wait for these futuristic lenses to become a reality, products like the Ray-Ban Meta smartglasses offer a glimpse into the exciting possibilities of smart eyewear. With advancements in battery technology and wearable tech, the future looks brighter than ever for smart contact lenses and other cutting-edge wearable devices.