Apple Could Be Ready To Release Smart Contact Lenses In ‘2030s’
Image via Shutterstock
One day, the “i” in “iPhone” could represent how it sounds. Ming-Chi Kuo, a renowned tech analyst who has forecasted several of Apple’s products with alarming precision, predicts that Apple might debut smart contact lenses in the 2030s, per a research note obtained by MacRumors.
Kuo surmised that the contact lenses won’t likely be equipped with “independent computing power and storage.” Instead, they’ll probably require an iPhone or another gadget to be able to work. As MacRumors reports, the lenses could serve as a “lightweight” option for augmented reality so users may one day no longer need to put on AR glasses or headsets.
If it all works out, Kuo believes Apple could shift the functionality of electronics from “visible computing” to “invisible computing.”
However, Kuo pointed out that, unlike numerous tech products predicted by the tech analyst, there is “no visibility” for the development of these contact lenses. “This sounds more like a moonshot prediction rather than a guaranteed product,” MacRumors notes.
In spite of the cloudy outlook, it is worth considering that Apple has been exploring smart contact lenses for some years. According to AppleInsider, the company arranged a meeting with medical device manufacturing firm EP Global Communications back in 2016 to “explore use of iOS for mobile in future augmented reality lenses,” though this discussion seemed to be for a third-party product.
AR contact lenses, although conceptual for now, aren’t a new idea. A company named Mojo Vision is setting its sights on developing smart contact lenses that work as a private digital screen to aid everyday life. With the microdisplay, wearers could be able to summon information like their messages, schedules, and directions.
Before Apple even comes close to releasing smart contact lenses, the tech rumor mill anticipates it will debut a mixed-reality headset and augmented-reality glasses. These are expected to arrive in “mid-2022” and by 2025 respectively.
[via MacRumors, cover image via Shutterstock]
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