This tiny wearable allows wearers to benefit from glucose monitoring and AR tech at the same time.

A team of researchers at the University of South Australia have now created the prototype for a piece of wearable technology in the form of a contact lens that sounds more like science fiction than actual reality.

At the same time that smart glasses haven’t seen the hoped-for adoption, this eyewear offers a unique experience.

The contact lenses have been created to be a wearable technology that is electrically conductive and that could potentially host tiny displays. The tech would make it possible for a wearer to receive health feedback, such as blood sugar levels, and would be able to take advantage of certain augmented reality displays that would be shown as an overlay on top of the actual visible environment around them.

This type of wearable technology has been the pursuit of a few different teams around the world.

That said, the University of South Australia researchers from the Future Industries Institute (FFI) have been making some astounding advancements in the area of ultra-thin film tech sensors and displays. Previously, the same team of researchers have managed to come up with a type of thin reflective film coating that would improve the efficiency of vehicles. This same material could be used for the creation of smart windows on a building, so the amount of sunlight entering a room could be controlled.

That said, the most recent focus of the team has changed directions to a more medical pursuit. According to Drew Evans, an FII associate professor from the research team, “We have always known that our film coating technologies had potential for many applications and now we have taken that a step further by proving that we can make biocompatible, conducting polymers at the nanoscale and grow them directly on a contact lens.”

The wearable technology prototype was designed by using a layer of hydrated hydrogel substrates on the lens, which made it possible for a PEDOT polymer to be added to the lens surface. That polymer was engineered to be highly conductive at the same time that it is bio-compatible. Moreover, the team treated the hydrogel with plasma ahead of the application in order to ensure improved adhesion.

ToneTag will make sound-based mobile transactions possible for Indian consumers

Consumers in India will soon be able to take advantage of the convenience of sound-based mobile payments. ToneTag, a sound-based technology startup, has been tapped by MoboMoney, a payment platform that was launched in December 2015 by Tech Mahindra, to introduce a new feature into the MoboMoney ecosystem. ToneTag has developed technology that can facilitate mobile transactions with a simple sound or through the use of NFC technology, which most modern payment platforms are based on.

MoboMoney aims to expand the accessibility of mobile commerce

MoboMoney notes that the ToneTag sound-based technology is capable of facilitating transaction even on devices that are not equipped with NFC technology. This technology is still relatively rare in India, though more NFC-enabled devices are becoming available in the country. Sound-based technology could allow more consumers to participate in the mobile commerce space, allowing them to use a wide range of devices to make purchases in physical stores. A growing number of physical stores are beginning to support mobile commerce and more consumers participating in this space may lead to success for retailers.

India continues to be a favored mobile market

India is one of the fastest growing mobile payments markets in the world. The country is home to more than 1 billion mobile consumers, with many of these people living in rural areas. Those living in rural areas have shown particular interest in mobile commerce because it allows them to shop whenever they want and from wherever they are. MoboMoney aims to expand mobile commerce services to the full gamut of these consumers, hoping that more people will opt to make transactions via their mobile devices.

Innovative technology could help bring more people into the mobile commerce space

ToneTag has been finding success with its innovative technology. In August of last year, ToneTag rose a total of $1 million in funding. This money allowed the company to expand and perfect its services. Sound-based mobile payments have not yet become mainstream, but ToneTag’s ability to make mobile commerce more accessible to a wide range of people may change this in the coming years.