Over the last few days I decided to research further the impact this Augmented/Virtual Reality Contact Lens Display would have on society. Shown below are examples of how this will be beneficial and also non-beneficial:
Immersive Environments:
With this lens totally immersive three dimensional environments will be possible. For gaming this is the “holy grail” of displays, making the Star Trek “holadeck” that step closer. However other technologies will also need to be developed if the gamer wants to move around the environment.
Medicine:
This is an area where mankind can really benefit. Twenty-four hour health care will become common place as bio-censors placed on the lens constantly check for health problems.
Operations would be made simpler. With cameras incorporated in the lens surgeons would be able to zoom into minute areas during an operation (bionic vision). They could also, using augmented reality, have areas of the body such as major arteries, veins etc. traced during operations. Both of these factors making the surgery a lot less complicated. (http://www.gizmag.com/electronic-contact-lens-promises-bionic-capabilities-for-everyone/8689)
Operations could also be practiced as, like the completely immersive gaming concept mentioned above, an operation could also be created much like a game. Surgeons would then practice techniques (within this immersive world) without having to think about the consequences of anything going wrong. This would be highly beneficial to all doctors in whatever stage of there career be it surgeons in training or specialists.
Mobile Device Displays:
This is an area which will be revolutionized by this technology. The main problem currently with mobile devises is the screen size. As miniaturization is the main focus with all of these devises the smaller a devise the smaller the screen size must be. This leads to usability problems as it is harder for the user to read what’s displayed. This is the main problem for developers making these devises. Taking the display out of the devise will allow developers to rewrite the rule book.(http://www.gizmag.com/electronic-contact-lens-promises-bionic-capabilities-for-everyone.html)
An example would be users will be able to surf the internet on there phone using the lens as there display. This lens would then superimpose what the phone generates onto the users field of vision, allowing for a display that only they would see.
(http://www.gizmag.com/electronic-contact-lens-promises-bionic-capabilities-for-everyone.html)
GPS Systems:
With the use of augmented reality in unison with the lens the wearer would never get lost in any new environment. The user would use the lens to display a map detailing their route. This would then overlap what they already see (obviously some sort of computing devise would also be needed, to key in a destination). The user would then simply follow this map to get to their destination. A more serious example using the same idea could be in the military. Here troops would navigate through hazardous terrain using the devise.
Through this visual communication all troops in a unit will always be organized without having to converse with the commanding officer. As a result team operations are much more efficient.
E-Learning
This is another area which will benefit greatly from using this devise to display augmented reality. For instance, books will begin to come to life. This will mostly be within the realm of children’s books. These books will completely engage any child (and maybe even adults). The concept would work in much the same way as a pop up book however what you would see is the “pop-up” characters coming to life, walking around the page. (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FMJwURqpFWs) A problem with this concept however would be placing the lens in a child’s eye. This might not be too easy. A wrap around visor might be a simple more efficient idea.
Class rooms will become more interesting to students as teachers/lecturers will use the technology to explain visually. (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FMJwURqpFWs) This will benefit students greatly as it is known that the mind remembers visuals much easier than text. Students will also be able to interact with this augmented reality making a very entertaining experience.
As education may seem boring to some people tuning in to this “popular culture”, in this case video games, will be very important in future learning.
Emergency Sector:
Firefighters entering a burning building could have the location of the various exits, sprinkler systems throughout the building mapped out digitally. These 3D maps would then be superimposed onto there vision using the lens. They could also have cameras integrated (like the bionic vision concept above) so they could see other team members view which would allow them too communicate easily. This would also enable them to see different areas of the building allowing them to distribute themselves evenly to fight the blaze. All this supplementary information would need to be displayed to the wearer very intelligently so it would completely assist not distract the firefighter.
Next are some areas which might be seen as obstacles in the development of this technology.
Could people reject the idea of wearing an electronic devise on top of their eye?
Wearers of modern day polymer contact lenses have no such problems, saying that they are completely unnoticeable. So it won’t be a comfort factor which would decide this. It seems that the circuitry involved and the “Cy-Borg” association when looking through the display could be the defining factor whether it will triumph or not.
The end of Social Interaction
In modern times, where “face to face” interaction is becoming less and less frequent. Would this technology widen this gap even further than it already is when developed even further. I say this as most people, for instance, when traveling on public transport or walking down a street are usually “plugged” into to some mobile devise such as an i-pod or working on there laptop. Completely oblivious to the people located around them. With this devise might people have another reason not to talk to one another?
Developed Countries versus the Under Developed Countries
This Augmented Reality Lens Display will be the next big revolution in technology. With this technology being mass produced in all developed countries these areas will become even more sophisticated in education, medicine, welfare, etc. This will leave the already large gap to the poorer nations unbridgeable. If this is the case, the developed world might decide to forget about these countries leading them to become an eventual wasteland.
Immersive Environment Addiction
Mentioned above was the main advantage of having a completely immersive environment to play in. However there is also a rather dark view one could have regards these environments and addiction. From looking at today’s most successful computer games, “World of War Craft” and “Second Life”, there is an enormous quantity of people interested in fictional online worlds. With the birth of immersive environments displayed through these lenses. Users might become so obsessed they may not want to leave. Exiting from the real world where they feel meaningless, instead deciding to live in the fictional where they are god.
Advertising Overload
When in mass production users will begin to wear the lens constantly to help in there everyday lives. Advertising companies will clearly want to tap into this lucrative area. With that said how would this augmented reality be policed to stop wirelessly transmitted advert “pop ups” accruing on your display once in use. If this wasn’t controlled in the right way the wearer would be inundated with advertisements.
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