Google Introduces Its Smart Contact Lens Project

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Google now has a smart contact lens project? Would you put this thing in your eye?

We’re now testing a smart contact lens that’s built to measure glucose levels in tears using a tiny wireless chip and miniaturized glucose sensor that are embedded between two layers of soft contact lens material. We’re testing prototypes that can generate a reading once per second.
 
Hell no . . . it might call home with my visual data . . .and then secretly read my REM sleep and my fantasies. . .oops I mean my dreams.
 
Seems like just one more thing for diabetics to be able to exercise even less.
 
Would I put it in my eye? If I was a type 1 diabetic or an insulin-dependent type 2, I'd sure as hell want to. If I was a parent of a teenage diabetic (especially one who needs vision correction anyway) I would want it for them that much more. The thing could extend and even save a lot of lives.
 
Seems like just one more thing for diabetics to be able to exercise even less.
If the only causes for diabetes were poor diet and lack of exercise, I might casually dismiss it too (if I was a different type of person), but they're not.
 
What if instead of letting people see better, we make glasses do something else?
What if instead of letting people see better, we make contact lenses do something else?

What does google have against people who use corrective lenses to actually see?
 
If the only causes for diabetes were poor diet and lack of exercise, I might casually dismiss it too (if I was a different type of person), but they're not.


Heh. I have actually looked into this a decent amount.

A whole lot of the problem is lack of exercise and poor diet. Why do you think that adolescent diabetes is a huge problem? It is because the "parents" of these children let them watch TV, play video games, and eat all the junk food that they can get their hands on 24/7.

A large number of diabetics are able to get off most if not all their medication by improving their diet. Exercise helps as well.

Just because most "doctors" don't tell this to their patients doesn't mean it isn't true.

Now, if you are a diabetic and none of this applies to you.. sure, go ahead and use it for monitoring.
 
Seems like just one more thing for diabetics to be able to exercise even less.

Seriously...way to be a dick.

Not all people that have diabetes are fat and don't exercise. Sure a large percentage are, but just lumping everyone into that group is extremely tacky. Furthermore, having active monitoring vs having to stab your finger isn't encouraging or discouraging a healthy lifestyle in the least.

What if instead of letting people see better, we make glasses do something else?
What if instead of letting people see better, we make contact lenses do something else?

What does google have against people who use corrective lenses to actually see?

What's to say this can't be integrated into a corrective contact lens?

Seriously some of the assumptions about this are just asinine. As a contact lens wearer but someone who does not have diabetes, I find this kind of technology fascinating. Non-invasive real time monitoring would open the door to so many more people to staying on top of their blood sugar. If anything it would make it easier for people to become more active as if they started getting into the danger zone during an activity, they would be alerted in seconds instead of suddenly collapsing.
 
"On the other side, we will feed you customized ads for grocery products that are best suited for you as well as exercising equipment made specially for your needs. As an option, we offer free delivery of these products right to your doorstep!"

Man...we really will become those blobs from WallE.
 
What if instead of letting people see better, we make glasses do something else?
What if instead of letting people see better, we make contact lenses do something else?

What does google have against people who use corrective lenses to actually see?

Grog agree! Rocks were all I had when I was young....
 
"On the other side, we will feed you customized ads for grocery products that are best suited for you as well as exercising equipment made specially for your needs. As an option, we offer free delivery of these products right to your doorstep!"

Man...we really will become those blobs from WallE.

Pretty much.
 
Seriously...way to be a dick.

Not all people that have diabetes are fat and don't exercise. Sure a large percentage are, but just lumping everyone into that group is extremely tacky. Furthermore, having active monitoring vs having to stab your finger isn't encouraging or discouraging a healthy lifestyle in the least.



What's to say this can't be integrated into a corrective contact lens?

Seriously some of the assumptions about this are just asinine. As a contact lens wearer but someone who does not have diabetes, I find this kind of technology fascinating. Non-invasive real time monitoring would open the door to so many more people to staying on top of their blood sugar. If anything it would make it easier for people to become more active as if they started getting into the danger zone during an activity, they would be alerted in seconds instead of suddenly collapsing.

No, in all honesty, yeah, this idea sounds good. I think the negativity comes from all the cases in which technology has been used for all the other, non-beneficial purposes, like spying and advertising - all the stuff that you DON'T want to be attached to the thing's main purpose.
 
Heh. I have actually looked into this a decent amount.

A whole lot of the problem is lack of exercise and poor diet. Why do you think that adolescent diabetes is a huge problem? It is because the "parents" of these children let them watch TV, play video games, and eat all the junk food that they can get their hands on 24/7.

A large number of diabetics are able to get off most if not all their medication by improving their diet. Exercise helps as well.

Just because most "doctors" don't tell this to their patients doesn't mean it isn't true.

Now, if you are a diabetic and none of this applies to you.. sure, go ahead and use it for monitoring.

You should "look into it a decent amount" more. There certainly are causes of Diabetes that have nothing to do with diet or lack of exercise. Viral infections that damage the pancreas and steroid induced diabetes immediately comes to mind.
 
Seriously some of the assumptions about this are just asinine. As a contact lens wearer but someone who does not have diabetes, I find this kind of technology fascinating. Non-invasive real time monitoring would open the door to so many more people to staying on top of their blood sugar. If anything it would make it easier for people to become more active as if they started getting into the danger zone during an activity, they would be alerted in seconds instead of suddenly collapsing.
Yes, indeed. It might even encourage people with type 2 diabetes to exercise more since they'd be able to see the difference more clearly and in real time.

Of course, even if someone develops type 2 diabetes entirely because of their own choices and doesn't want to change their habits at all, I don't understand why that would be a reason for them not to use this technology or for it not to exist. Then again, maybe I'm behind the curve. Maybe there's a movement toward punishing the obese with multiple amputations and subsequent death for their lifestyle choices? Maybe we should be denying blood pressure medications, cholesterol medications, insulin, and even general medical care to these people, too?
 
You should "look into it a decent amount" more. There certainly are causes of Diabetes that have nothing to do with diet or lack of exercise. Viral infections that damage the pancreas and steroid induced diabetes immediately comes to mind.

agreed. the last thing diabetics need to hear is that they did this to themselves and how they're 'lazy'. may be true in some cases, but not all by a long shot. i have a family member who is steroid induced. the biggest problem is that diabetics aren't always well controlled for various reasons....a constant (or near to) monitoring system that doesn't involve stabbing yourself constantly would be revolutionary.

i don't see how this would encourage anyone to exercise less. this is about a much more convenient and better way of monitoring of their health.
 
I make my living performing eye exams on diabetics, so I'm pretty interested in this technology.
 
Just another wireless device on your person transmitting info about you. I am sure it can be tweaked to give your location.
 
You should "look into it a decent amount" more. There certainly are causes of Diabetes that have nothing to do with diet or lack of exercise. Viral infections that damage the pancreas and steroid induced diabetes immediately comes to mind.

Did you read my last line?
 
agreed. the last thing diabetics need to hear is that they did this to themselves and how they're 'lazy'. may be true in some cases, but not all by a long shot. i have a family member who is steroid induced. the biggest problem is that diabetics aren't always well controlled for various reasons....a constant (or near to) monitoring system that doesn't involve stabbing yourself constantly would be revolutionary.

i don't see how this would encourage anyone to exercise less. this is about a much more convenient and better way of monitoring of their health.

But, here is what I see happening with those who are the ones who have self inflicted diabetes.

1. Get said contact.
2. Insert said contact into eye.
3. Unless a warning goes off, they will keep eating as much junk food as possible without sending themselves into a coma.
4. "Parents" of the diabetic children will do even less for their children in regards to keeping their diet, etc in check.
5. I bet this tech goes into some type of welfare program and the taxpayers end up paying for it for those on welfare.

I am calling it how I see it. If you live in some magical place where there are not a huge number of overweight people (self inflicted), then good for you.

I am not talking about the people that have actual medical conditions, but the ones who could not care less about taking care of themselves or their children.
 
Give me a break people. The vast majority of diabetes today is completely preventable with diet and exercise, and it's rise is a total embarassment. There's certainly a fraction of diabetics that are genetically f'd, as it were, but they are very much the minority.
 
Hell, I'd certainly use it. It'd beat bleeding every time I need to test it.
 
I'm convinced. All research into and treatment of diabetes should be stopped because it's either the diabetic's own fault or survival of the fittest.
 
No because I cant even put normal contacts on my eyes. My body rejects me trying to put anything close to my eye and I cant do it even if i am forced. people have to hold my eyes open at the eye doctor to do anything.
 
Heh. I have actually looked into this a decent amount.

A whole lot of the problem is lack of exercise and poor diet. Why do you think that adolescent diabetes is a huge problem? It is because the "parents" of these children let them watch TV, play video games, and eat all the junk food that they can get their hands on 24/7.

A large number of diabetics are able to get off most if not all their medication by improving their diet. Exercise helps as well.

Just because most "doctors" don't tell this to their patients doesn't mean it isn't true.

Now, if you are a diabetic and none of this applies to you.. sure, go ahead and use it for monitoring.

If by adolescent diabetes you mean juvenile (Type 1) you definitely need to do more research. My 11 year old has been a type 1 diabetic since the age of 5. My 3 kids are extremely athletic and spend most of their time riding bikes playing hockey and martial arts. Type 1 diabetes is caused by a virus that attacks your T Cells that send the signal from your brain to you pancreas to create natural insulin. No amount of exercise will prevent that.

And to everyone else that thinks it is a waste, the eyeballs are actually the most accurate way to check your glucose level. Any kind of research is going to do nothing but create ways to improve the lifestyle of somebody living with this disease. Ask my son how much he loves pricking his finger 8 - 10 times a day to make sure that his blood sugar is at an acceptable range. If you don't know diabetes if uncontrolled leads to blindness, amputation of limbs, heart disease and many other nasty things.

Sorry about getting up on my soapbox and ranting, but when you have to rush your five year old to the hospital with this illness and watch him spend the rest of his life trying to be "normal".
 
If by adolescent diabetes you mean juvenile (Type 1) you definitely need to do more research. My 11 year old has been a type 1 diabetic since the age of 5. My 3 kids are extremely athletic and spend most of their time riding bikes playing hockey and martial arts. Type 1 diabetes is caused by a virus that attacks your T Cells that send the signal from your brain to you pancreas to create natural insulin. No amount of exercise will prevent that.

And to everyone else that thinks it is a waste, the eyeballs are actually the most accurate way to check your glucose level. Any kind of research is going to do nothing but create ways to improve the lifestyle of somebody living with this disease. Ask my son how much he loves pricking his finger 8 - 10 times a day to make sure that his blood sugar is at an acceptable range. If you don't know diabetes if uncontrolled leads to blindness, amputation of limbs, heart disease and many other nasty things.

Sorry about getting up on my soapbox and ranting, but when you have to rush your five year old to the hospital with this illness and watch him spend the rest of his life trying to be "normal".
From what I understood, it was caused by an auto-immune reaction that destroys beta cells in the pancreas, thereby destroying the body's ability to produce insulin.

I have a very hard time keeping track of my glucose levels, and I'd be glad to have this. I've never worn a contact before, but would definitely make an effort to do so with this. After having been diagnosed with adult onset (type 2) at age 12 (not overweight or sedentary) and having my diagnosis changed to type one after the antibodies for beta cells were discovered a few years back, it's not something I'd say I enjoy living with.
 
My cousin's wife is as thin as a rail, works as a nurse and gets gestational diabetes. She wouldn't need them year round, but they'd be handy when she was pregnant.
My grandmother is a Southern type, you know, raised on meat and potatoes, 3 starches with every meal, 2 desserts, and has type 2.
My cousin is thin as a rail, has a pretty physical job and his blood sugar goes all over, he's going in for testing Monday.
For my cousin's and his wife's sakes I hope this comes through. Both use Android phones so this would be a godsend for both.
Hell, I'd love to have something like this for myself. Sometimes I get wrapped up in something I'm doing and forget to eat, my sugar drops like a rock and next thing I know I'm falling over. I've been tested and do not have diabetes but it could help me. I changed my diet from starches and meats to meats and veggies, a lot of things like sashimi, hummus and felafel. I haven't adjusted to the cutting back of the starches and sugars yet and don't know when to eat because I just don't get hungry a lot of times due to my meds. This would be fantastic for me.
Might help me improve my temperament if I can keep my blood sugar a little more regular too.
 
From what I understood, it was caused by an auto-immune reaction that destroys beta cells in the pancreas, thereby destroying the body's ability to produce insulin.

I have a very hard time keeping track of my glucose levels, and I'd be glad to have this. I've never worn a contact before, but would definitely make an effort to do so with this. After having been diagnosed with adult onset (type 2) at age 12 (not overweight or sedentary) and having my diagnosis changed to type one after the antibodies for beta cells were discovered a few years back, it's not something I'd say I enjoy living with.

Yes that is what causes type 1 diabetes. An auto immune virus attacks the T Cells that tell the pancreas it is time to make insulin. My son has tried a Continuous Glucose Monitor but he hated it. It was very uncomfortable for him and it gave false readings more often than not. Medtronic makes his Insulin Pump and they are going to upgrade it in a few weeks and give him a new CGM. Hopefully this one won't be as uncomfortable. His daily life is hard enough with diabetes and I hated having to see him struggle with the old CGM.
 
Knowing google this will either be cancelled (its useful) or will be released partially functional (but still useful) and then slowly be ruined by completely idiotic changes. "Google Glass is now required to communicate to google contacts"

Also there sure seem to be a large number of diabetics in here...on a forum about computer hardware...
THEREFORE computers cause bad habits (lack of diet + exercise) but they also cause genetic disorders and implant you with the "T" virus.
 
Just another wireless device on your person transmitting info about you. I am sure it can be tweaked to give your location.

Why bother developing a method to see the location of diabetic people with these contacts when everyone's phones already give out their locations?
 
Give me a break people. The vast majority of diabetes today is completely preventable with diet and exercise, and it's rise is a total embarassment. There's certainly a fraction of diabetics that are genetically f'd, as it were, but they are very much the minority.

>80,000 people in the US are diagnosed with type ONE diabetes each year
>60,000 people in the US are diagnosed with Parkinson's disease each year

So your either saying that we should stop Parkinson's research because it's incidence is less than T1D, or we should stop diabetes research because it benefits too many irresponsible people coincidentally.

Not to mention irresponsible mothers can predispose their children to type 2 diabetes as well.

By your own reasoning you need to ban yourself from the internet for irresponsibility.
 
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