Mojo Vision Shows Off Functioning AR Contact Lens Prototype

A California startup that is developing a smart contact lens will soon make it possible for customers to put the lenses into their eyes for testing. Mojo Vision debuted with its smart contact lenses at CES 2020, but only journalists were allowed to hold up the lens close to their eyes; they couldn't wear them. On Tuesday, Mojo Vision announced that its CEO Drew Perkins became the first person to put on a prototype feature-complete lens during an internal test. The on-eye demonstration was significant because it demonstrated that the contact lens could be utilized while being worn without any connection between them.

“After completing preclinical testing and mitigating potential safety risks, I wore Mojo Lens,” Perkins wrote in the blog post. “Much to my delight, I found I could interact with a compass to find my bearings, view images, and use an on-screen teleprompter to read a surprising but familiar quote.”

On the lens, the technology is meant to provide an augmented reality experience. The latest prototype features a MicroLED display with a 250-by-250-pixel resolution that measures 0.02 inches in diameter. The lens also includes a 5GHz radio and one of Arm's smallest processors, allowing it to show and overlay digital items on top of what you're seeing.

The prototype's next component is eye tracking, which will allow any virtual images displayed on the contact lens to remain still over your vision even if you move your eyes. The lenses are powered by built-in "micro-batteries," but it's unclear how long they will last on a single charge. Mojo intends to conduct clinical trials using the prototypes' lenses to examine their potential and provide feedback regarding the onboard software in the future.

“With this advancement, we now have a testing platform that helps us refine and build Mojo Lens that will ultimately lead to submission to the FDA for market approval,” Perkins added.