Samsung has done it yet again as it relates to
taking us to the cutting edge.
This time, they've received a patent for a “smart”
contact lenses called Gear Blink as reported in the article “Samsung’s
next wearable could be a smart contact lens called Gear Blink”, published
April 6, 2016 by Robert Nazarian, DigitalTrends.
Apparently the Samsung Gear 360 is enough for them
as described in my Geezam blog article
entitled “How
Samsung Gear 360 is a Creative Tool for YouTube VR Content”; they had to
turn it up a notch, or eyelid, so to speak.
The Gear Blink patent, which was originally filed in
2014, is basically a contact lens that will house the following components:
1. Camera
2. Motion
Sensors
3. Transmitter
4. Display
unit
Basically, this is an augmented reality unit that
pairs with your smartphone and commands are sent via blinking. Photos and
videos can be viewed from your Smartphone on these contact lenses as described
in the article “Where
we're going we don't need headsets: Samsung receives patent for AR contact
lenses”, published April 6, 2016, by Daniel Van Boom, CNET News.
So why did Samsung file this patent? Are they
planning to enter the Virtual Reality wars as described in my Geezam blog article entitled “How
CES 2016 is going VR thanks to HTC, Sony, Microsoft, Samsung and Oculus” with Gear Blink contact lenses as a their
solution?
Samsung
and Virtual Reality contact lenses - Potentially better than VR or AR Goggles
Samsung has an interest in Virtual reality, having
made the Gear VR that's been selling since November 2015 for US$99 as noted in my
Geezam blog article entitled “US$99
Samsung Gear VR in November 2015 is a fanboy’s VR Dream”.
However, Samsung appears to not be very serious
about virtual reality, as they have no plans for a gaming console, relegating
the Gear VR to being a mere add on to the Samsung Galaxy S6 and S7 as opined in
my Geezam blog article entitled “Samsung Galaxy S7 Launch #TheNextGalaxyJa”.
This latest patent might change that. These Gear
Blink contact lenses would not only immerse the user into another world, but it
would allow them to still interact with the real one, effectively Augmented or
blended reality, whichever term you're comfortable with using.
Samsung believes AR is the way to go, as it more
comfortable than VR goggles, which can strain the eye and leave you suffering
from spatial disorientation, nausea and even with goggle marking on your face
after prolonged usage as noted in the article “The dangers of
virtual reality”, published March 29, 2016 by Scott Stein, CNET.
They also tout improved image quality, being as these
contact lens rests directly on the eye. This is because it's projecting the
image direct into the eye by overlaying it on reality, instead of causing eye
stain by you having to look at LED/LCD screens that your eyes have to adjust.
thus it's easier, as it's more natural and is an
improvement on the Google Glass, which their patent specifically mentioned and
which may potentially replace smartphones as predicted in my blog article
entitled “Google
Glass coming to Enterprise users - Personal PC beginnings to replace
smartphones and Gaming Consoles in 2016”.
So is this better than the Google Glass, which is
set to launch to relaunch in 2016 as noted in my blog article entitled “Google
Glass prototype GG1 filing with FCC suggests smartphones replacement in 2016”.
Samsung
Gear Blink - Challenger to Google Glass even as Google develops Smart contact
lenses
Google has long been developing a smart contact lens
since 2014.
Coincidentally Google had filed a patent back in
April 2014 for a pair of Contact Lenses with Cameras built in as described in my
Geezam blog article entitled “Google
Contact Lenses with Cameras will be Next-Gen Google Glass Smartphone
Replacement”.
Later that year Google in collaboration with
Novartis’s Alcon Team had announced in September 2014 that they'd develop a
pair of Contact Lenses that could detect Blood Sugar as noted in my Geezam blog article entitled “Google
and Novartis develop Contact Lenses to Detect Blood Sugar and cure Blindness”.
So the idea isn't original.
But the potential for this product to totally unseat
Virtual reality goggles in the future, give sight to the blind and even make
smartphones smaller as predicted in my Geezam blog
article entitled “Augmented
Reality Contact Lens development will shrink smartphones to Feature Phone size”
makes this patent hard to ignore.
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