Business / Google Launches Smart Lenses

Google Launches Smart Lenses

Business Jan 23, 2014

by Anokhi Admin

Google has said it is testing a 'smart contact lens' that can help measure glucose levels in tears.

Millions of people suffer from diabetes. They are at risk for heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and many other problems that develop as a result of high blood sugar. But now, with the new solution that may be offered by Google in the future, many will be able to gain better control by knowing their blood sugar levels. With 'smart contact lenses', they will be able to gain control without pain or expensive supplies.

It uses a "tiny" wireless chip and a "miniaturised" glucose sensor embedded between two layers of lens material. However, it's not meant to be a miniaturized version of Glass — it's meant to help diabetes patients keep track of their glucose levels. Inside the lens is a miniaturized wireless chip and glucose monitor that will measure the glucose levels of the wearer's tears.

Google said a prototype of its 'smart contact lens' can generate a reading of a tear's glucose level every second, potentially replacing the need for people with diabetes to prick their fingers and test drops of blood throughout the day.

"We're in discussions with the FDA, but there's still a lot more work to do to turn this technology into a system that people can use," Google said in a post on its official blog.

Google's hoping that it'll be a less painful and invasive way to monitor glucose levels than the typical method of pricking a finger and testing blood droplets multiple times a day. Ideally, the sensor would be able to generate a reading once per second, and Google wants it to act as an early warning device for when glucose levels start dropping — the company imagines putting a minuscule LED light in the lens that could indicate levels dropping above or below a set threshold.

The firm said it is also working on integrating tiny LED lights that could light up to indicate that glucose levels have crossed certain thresholds.

But it added that "a lot more work" needed to be done to get the technology ready for everyday use. The drawback, however, is that this invention has already been at least five years in the making and has been tried by other companies, including Microsoft. No reports have been made about how much investment has gone into this product or how far away Google, or any others that may be working on it, may be from releasing a finished product. "It's still early days for this technology, but we've completed multiple clinical research studies which are helping to refine our prototype," the firm said in its official blogpost.

According to the International Diabetes Federation, one in ten people across the world's population are forecast to have diabetes by 2035.

People suffering from the condition need to monitor their glucose levels regularly as sudden spikes or drops are dangerous. At present, the majority of them do so by testing drops of blood.

_{Featured Image: engadget.com

Video Courtesy of AP}

COMMENTS

Cool Tech Gift Ideas

Top Ten Rules of Texting Etiquette

ANOKHI MEDIA Is Pleased To Announce 2 New Additions To The Roster Of Celebrities Attending Our 11th Anniversary Event!

NetIP Toronto 2014 Launch

Facebook Buys WhatsApp For 19 Billion Dollars

The Quini App For Wine Enthusiasts

Protecting Your Privacy Online

ICCC Celebrates International Women's Day

Ideas To Entrepreneurship

Google Launches Smart Lenses

by Anokhi Admin

Google has said it is testing a 'smart contact lens' that can help measure glucose levels in tears.

COMMENTS

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE