In the future, your wearables might be a bit harder to spot than an Apple Watch or Google Glass. In a patent awarded Oct. 13, Google outlined a design for a wearable communication device, replete with sensors, memory and a microprocessor, shaped like a contact lens. This lens would at least be partially powered by what the patent calls “optical signals.” In theory, a tiny photodetector and solar cells could harvest light signals from an external source, that could then be converted into electrical power. According to the patent, this would allow the lens to be powered by camera flashes (however blinding that might be for the wearer) and ambient sunlight. The patent suggests that the contact lens could send information back to another device about the wearer’s temperature or blood-alcohol level. It could sense the environment around it, with the patent suggesting that the lens would be able to tell if there were allergens in the air, or other “hazardous materials.” The patent adds that the lens would be able to communicate with computers or mobile devices, and potentially read information from a range of objects, including price tags. While there are both flexible solar panels, and small solar panels, there hasn’t yet been a wearable that has implemented this sort of energy technology, let alone on something a tiny as a contact lens. And there’s no guarantee that Google is actually building this technology yet, though the lens does sound like an extension of another Google lens project, which aims to help diabetics track their glucose levels, and apparently charges through radio frequency. Google wasn’t immediately available for comment. We’ll have to see it to believe it.
Google has been awarded a patent for a wearable communication device, shaped like a contact lens, with sensors, memory and a microprocessor. This would be the first wearable to implement the energy technology used in small and flexible solar panels. The patent, which was granted on May 19, 2013, covers an array of sensors that could detect when someone is wearing the device or even if they are not wearing it. The lens could send information to another device about the wearer’s temperature or blood-alcohol level. It could sense allergens and “hazardous materials” in the air, communicate with computers and mobile devices, and read information such as price tags. As always with patent issuances, a production-run is not guaranteed, but the design extends another Google lens project, which helps diabetics track glucose levels and charges through radio frequency.