Mojo Vision Emerges from Stealth Mode with Augmented Reality (AR) Contact Lenses

A sci-fi vision is taking shape. Mojo Vision revealed its development on a tiny augmented reality display embedded in prescription contact lenses, offering a digital layer of information superimposed on what is usually observed in the real world.

The core of the Mojo Lens is a hexagonal display that is less than half a millimeter across, with each greenish pixel measuring a quarter of a red blood cells width barely. A "femtoprojector," a miniature magnification mechanism, optically expands the imagery and beams it to the retina's center patch.

Electronics, including a camera that captures the outside world, are ringed around the lenses. The imagery is processed by a computer chip, which controls the display and communicates wirelessly with other devices like a phone. Basically, a motion tracker that compensates for the movement of your eyes. The device is powered by a wirelessly charged battery, similar to a smartwatch.

Mojo's strategy is to outperform bulky headwear like Microsoft's HoloLens, which has begun to include augmented reality. Mojo Lens could benefit people with vision issues if it succeeds, for example, by highlighting letters in writing or making curb edges more visible. In addition, athletes might use the gadget to see how far they've ridden or how fast their heart is racing without having to check additional equipment.

Augmented reality, or AR, is a sophisticated technology that integrates computing capabilities into eyeglasses, smartphones, and other devices. The technology overlays real-world photos with information, such as showing a backhoe operator where wires are buried. However, so far, AR has largely been used for entertainment purposes, like displaying a movie character on a phone screen view of the real world.

However, before Mojo Vision's lenses are available for purchase, the company has a long way to go. First, regulators will have to approve the device, and it will have to overcome social discomfort. Google Glass, a previous attempt to incorporate AR into eyewear from the search giant, failed because users were concerned about what was being recorded and shared.

Because it will be practically invisible to the uninitiated, societal acceptance will be difficult to achieve. Yet, an invisible contact lens is preferable to bulky AR headgear.

"There is a challenge here making these things small enough to be socially acceptable.," Wiemer, the creator, remarked.

Another issue to consider is battery life. The creator indicated that he wanted to achieve a one-hour life shortly. Still, the business later clarified that the plan was for a two-hour life when the contact lens was computationally operating full power.

In addition, people will often only wear the contact lens for a few seconds; thus, the effective battery life will be longer, according to the organization.

"Mojo's goal for when it ships the product is for the wearer to have the lens on their eye all day and be able to access information regularly and then re-charge it overnight," the business said.

Verily, a Google parent company Alphabet subsidiary, attempted to develop a contact lens to monitor glucose levels but abandoned the project. A 2014 Google patent for a contact lens camera is closer to Mojo's invention, although the company has yet to release any devices. Innovega's eMacula AR eyewear and contact lens technology is a competitor to follow in the wearable technology space

Eye-tracking technology, which monitors your eye movement and adjusts visuals accordingly, is a crucial feature of the Mojo Lens. Mojo Lens would display a static image fixed to the center of your vision if it didn't use eye-tracking. Instead of reading a long line of text, you'd merely watch the text block shift along with your eyes if you flicked your focus.

The eye-tracking technology used by Mojo is based on smartphone accelerometer and gyroscope technologies.

The Mojo Lens processes and controls imagery and provides a user interface using an external device called a relay accessory.

Your real-world vision is unaffected by the display and projector. "The display is impossible to see. It has no bearing on your perception of reality, "Wiemer explained. "You can close your eyes and read a book or watch a movie."

Although the projector only illuminates the middle area of your retina, the imagery is linked to your constantly fluctuating vision of the real world and varies as you vary your look. "Display content can be found wherever. It gives the impression that the canvas is endless," Wiemer explained.

Why should contact lenses be computerized?

Because 150 million individuals worldwide already wear contact lenses, the startup chose them as an AR display technology. They aren't heavy and don't fog up. When it comes to augmented reality, they'll work even if your eyes are closed. Bottom-line, we don’t know all the possibilities yet. We don’t know how many consumers will be comfortable with electronics on their eyes.   There are a lot of unknowns. However, we do know that if Mojo opens up its platform to the development community we’ll see mind-blowing applications for this type of technology. 

Menicon, a Japanese contact lens manufacturer, is helping Mojo develop its lenses. So far, it has raised $159 million from investors such as New Enterprise Associates, Liberty Global Ventures, and Khosla Ventures.

Since 2020, Mojo Vision has been showcasing its contact lens technology. 

Will this be the company that actually gets their product to market? How will it compare to Apple’s AR specs?  We’ll have to wait and see. The business hasn't announced a definitive date when a product will be released. Still, it did say that its technology is now "feature complete," which means it contains all necessary components, including hardware and software.