Vision correcting smartphone display could help visually impaired people.
A team of researchers are developing vision-correcting smartphone displays that enable users to see images and text clearly without wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and University of California have teamed up to develop "vision-correcting display" technology that fits on your smartphone's screen or laptop. The display is made out of a thin, transparent material that works with a computer algorithm to correct the individual's visual impairment.
The screen cover has a pattern of tiny pinholes that alters the light emanating from the smartphone's screen. Researchers add that the future versions of the prototype display will allow the viewer to adjust the algorithm based on prescriptions from an optometrist.
"The vision-correcting display will not help visually-impaired people see the rest of the world more clearly but it could improve their visual experience with smartphones and other devices," explained Gordon Wetzstein, a research scientist at MIT's media lab.
"The new algorithm computes a pattern that is being displayed on the regular screen, but when you observe it through this pinhole mask, it forms this illusion of a focused image outside the physical device," Wetzstein told Live Science.
Brian Barsky, University of California Berkeley professor of computer science and vision science stated that the displays could one day help people with more complex visual problems, called high order aberrations, which cannot be corrected by eyeglasses.
"People with higher order aberrations often have irregularities in the shape of the cornea, and this irregular shape makes it very difficult to have a contact lens that will fit. In some cases, this can be a barrier to holding certain jobs because many workers need to look at a screen as part of their work. This research could transform their lives," said Barsky.
Scientists have been working on developing new technology that could be easily used with smartphones or wearables to monitor health. Researchers from Polytechnique Montreal and Gorilla Glass manufacturer Corning have recently developed a new display sensor for smartphones that can read a user's spit to not check their body temperature, assess blood levels and even analyze DNA.
Google is also working on a contact lens to help diabetics monitor their glucose levels by taking readings from moisture in users' eyes. The internet giant recently partnered with Novartis to develop the smart lens.
Source: Live Science
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Silky Malhotra
Silky Malhotra loves learning about new technology, gadgets, and more. When she isn’t writing, she is usually found reading, watching Netflix, gardening, travelling, or trying out new cuisines. View Full Profile
