Finnish eyewear company IXI is preparing to launch smart glasses featuring autofocus capabilities through integrated liquid crystal lenses and eye-tracking sensors. The technology aims to provide dynamic vision correction, eliminating the need for traditional bifocal or varifocal lenses, and was showcased in prototype form at CES.
Technology and Functionality
The IXI smart glasses utilize a system of eye-tracking sensors combined with liquid crystals within the lenses to enable instantaneous prescription adjustments. This dynamic lens system is designed to address limitations associated with traditional vision correction methods.
Traditional bifocal lenses, which emerged in the late 18th century, offer two distinct magnification areas for different distances. Varifocal lenses, introduced in the 1960s, provide a smoother transition between magnifications but can lead to peripheral vision distortions, require an adaptation period, and are typically more expensive. According to IXI CEO Niko Eiden, varifocal lenses often feature a narrow viewing channel with areas of distortion on the sides.
The IXI glasses are engineered to offer a larger reading area for close-up vision, which the company states will be optimally positioned based on a user's standard eye exam. This reading area is designed to retract when not in use, allowing the main distance prescription to utilize the entire lens surface.
The eye-tracking system employs an array of LEDs and photodiodes positioned around the lens edges. These components emit invisible infrared light and measure the reflection to infer the user's gaze direction and how both eyes converge on nearby objects. The system is reported to be power-efficient, consuming 4 milliwatts.
The prototype lenses are constructed from layers of liquid crystal and a transparent indium tin oxide (ITO) conductive layer, allowing for rapid switching between prescription states. The design is compatible with integrating existing prescription lenses and can provide cylindrical correction for astigmatism.
Design and Power
The smart glasses are designed to resemble standard spectacles, with a prototype weighing 22 grams (0.78 ounces). Most of the core technology, including memory, sensors, driving electronics, and the eye tracker, is housed within the front frame and the parts of the arms closest to the hinge.
The glasses require charging, with batteries designed for a full day of use. Charging occurs via a magnetic port discreetly located in the temple or arm hinge area.
Safety and Limitations
Anticipated visual characteristics include a "blend area" during liquid crystal transitions. However, the central sharp viewing area is reported to be sufficiently large for reading, and consistent visibility of distortions is not expected.
In the event of an electronic or liquid crystal malfunction, the glasses are equipped with a failsafe mode that reverts them to a base state of distance vision or the wearer's standard prescription, without causing visual disturbances.
Further testing is required before the glasses can be certified safe for driving. While IXI is developing the glasses for daily use across various temperatures, moisture levels, and user movements, specific optimal operating conditions have not yet been fully disclosed.
Development and Market Plans
IXI, which employs 75 individuals and has secured over $40 million in funding, is currently working towards medical certifications and preparing for production. The company has partnered with Swiss lens-maker Optiswiss for manufacturing.
The company plans to launch its autofocus glasses within the next year, positioning them as a high-end product within the existing eyewear market. Initial availability will be in Europe, pending regulatory approval, followed by FDA approval for release in the United States, and subsequent global distribution. Initially, "two or three" frame shapes will be available in various widths.
Expert Perspectives and Competition
Ian Murray, a professor of visual neuroscience at the University of Manchester who is not affiliated with IXI, described the autofocus glasses as an "excellent idea" from a physics standpoint, noting the technology's feasibility. However, he raised questions regarding the field of vision and performance in low lighting conditions, suggesting the technology might initially have limited application.
Other companies are also developing autofocus glasses using liquid crystals, including Japan's Elcyo. Another Japanese company, ViXion, currently sells autofocusing glasses, though its design differs from conventional spectacles, requiring users to look through two small apertures for the autofocus effect.
Future Potential
Beyond vision correction, IXI's sensor sensitivity has potential for additional applications. These include providing insights into health conditions such as dry eyes or attentiveness, and posture tracking through gaze. Data from blink rate changes, which can be correlated with focus, daydreaming, and anxiety, may be displayed in a companion application. Future iterations could also dynamically adapt prescriptions to account for eye fatigue throughout the day.