"Circuit-based" contact lens = superhuman vision?

Engineers at the University of Washington have created a flexible, biologically safe contact lens with an imprinted electronic circuit and lights.

They showed off their latest invention at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' international conference in Livermore, Calif.

How could it change your life? Imagine tossing your flat screen and looking at truly hi-def TV in your eyes or playing a videogame that way. You could surf the internet, without a laptop, virtually anywhere.

The prototype device contains an electric circuit as well as red light-emitting diodes for a display, though it does not yet light up. The researchers tested the lenses on rabbits for up to 20 minutes and the animals showed no adverse effects.

The prototype does not correct the wearer's vision, but the technique could be used on a corrective lens, and all the gadgetry won't obstruct a person's view.

And researchers say a basic version of this technology could be ready fairly quickly.