Scientists at the University of California have developed a particularly innovative product. They have created a contact lens that zooms in when you blink.
The soft robotic contact lens was created by scientists in San Diego. The lens is controlled by your eye movements and zooms in when you blink twice.
The researchers explain on The New Scientist that it does not matter how well a person can see. The lens controls not by sight, but by electrical impulses. "Even if your eye cannot see, you can often still move your eyeball, for example up or down," they say. This generates an electrooculographic signal that can be used to control the lens.' So if you blink twice, objects you are looking at are brought closer.
Design
The scientists measured the electrical impulses and found a way to change the lens' focus length. Thanks to the soft materials used, the lens can zoom in about 32 per cent. The focus length is changed by deforming the lens. Dielectric elastomer was used in the experiment. to achieve the required deformation.
The researchers think the lens could be used for visual prosthetics and adjustable glasses. In the future, they hope the lens could even be used for controllable robots.
You can read more about the development of the lens here.
Source: The New Scientist.
