BTW

Your cornea is ringing

by Aili McConnon

Researchers at Seattle's University of Washington are developing a contact lens that projects images in front of the wearer's eyes—to signal an incoming call, say, or e-mail. The transparent polymer-based lens, which can also correct vision, contains metal circuitry and light-emitting diodes. The idea is for it to communicate with mobile devices, including GPS units. Beyond its commercial uses, the lens, likely to be solar powered, could also help direct soldiers in the field. (The project has government backing.) The lenses are now being tested on rabbits, says lead researcher Babak Parviz, but "what surprised us are the dozens of people calling to volunteer to test them."