The problem with cool strap-on heads-up displays a few lucky soldiers get to use on the battlefield today is that they're bulky affairs that make them look like half-assed cyborgs. Plus, the interface is limited. The Pentagon wants to develop contact lenses that'll put "first-person-shooter-type video game" graphics on top the soldiers' vision. Yes, they want to make real-life combat the realest Halo match ever.
Specifically, they're looking for "information on technology areas for the creation of micro- and nano-scale display technologies for the purpose of creating displays that could be worn as transparent contact lenses." And they want it now. Okay, like three to five years, but that's practically immediate for the Pentagon. Right in time for Halo 5. [Federal Business Opportunities via Danger Room]













Comments
Ha, First person hooter.
"first-person-hooter-type video game"
I am so going out right now to form a new FPH gaming clan.
@Aceoage: Damn,you beat me to it!
i am going out and waiting in line for this halo 5 thats going to be like real fighting in my eye
Dang, I wanted to point out the "First-person-hooter" thing, now I'll join the HOURDES of people who will. Please do NOT fix that typo, I love it.
mmm mmmm mmmmmmmm BITCH!!! I love me some first person hooters!!!!
Freudian Slip?
Is it possible for the eye to focus on something that is on the eye itself? I can't even focus on my glasses' rims, much less my eyelashes.
First person hooters YEAH!
@Out2gtcha: Sign me up!
I'm in the Army, when are we supposed to get these? I might have to re-up.
Ha, good.. with these contact lenses and a toy weapon in hand I wont have to worry about some snobby ass 9 year olds kicking my ass in Halo 3. Ill beat them down with my battle rifle and then steal their lunch money.
Go learn something you damn kids!
But it won't be the real COD4 experience unless it comes with a matching headset so that your enemies can call you a niggerfag.
/really, just once I'd like to be insulted by someone who at least makes an attempt to be clever...
As long as it doesn't force the soldiers to loudly announce when they're planting claymores.
Oh SHIT!
Their UAV is ONLINE!!!
Damn, they fixed it.
Is this gonna be used for training purposes or in combat?
darpa ... you so crazy!
This is what's going to happen...
soldier - Wait guys, I lost a contact. Can you help me look for it?
(Whole platoon walks in circles staring at the ground for 10 minutes)
If memory serves correct, you can't even wear contacts when you go into battle and in most military jobs, that's why they issue the birth-control glasses.
Losing a contact would not be a problem, just wait 5 minutes for it to go black for the screensaver.
I'd settle for Haloesque Oakley's.
Will the soldiers start running backwards at faster-than-light speeds while looking around jerkily when "Connection Interrupted" starts flashing in the middle of their vision?
This would be great in Iraq, everytime a pile of sand gets kicked they need a new contact. I'm sure the enemies would wait for them to clean it. Why not just make some badass sunglasses.
@gamecrazychris: They could just wear some clear, bullet proof strap on thin goggles over thier eyes...with the contacts on, kinda like speedo goggles but more badass.
when you're squad has been defeated is there some condescending voice that comes from nowhere saying "We may have lost the battle...but not the war". (educate yourself if you don't get the COD4 reference) Even better...if it was George Bush's voice. You could totally get him to do it too, he's the only one who seems to believe that krap anyways.
by far the dumbest thing ever. your eyes can't focus on something far in front of you and something right in your eye at the same time. Contacts can only be used for optics enhancement and never any overlay of information.
"DARPA Wants Contact Lenses to Turn Real-Life Combat Into Call of Duty 4"
Respawning, challenges, and time limits? Where do I sign up?!? :P
3 to 5 years?
so...potential revolution in monitor technology in 3 to 5 years? SWEET!
you know if they could get the whole spacial perception thing down, then we could basically have a way to make holograms. Only difference is, these holograms would be able to go where-ever you could. these things would also be pretty major for the mobile computer user.
i really, really hope this comes out.
I am soo getting these when they come out!
It appears our military knows bupkus about optics. So much for military intelligence. . .
@se7a7n7: That's correct, they even make prescription lens inserts for gas masks and soldiers can get eye surgery to eliminate the need for contact lenses or glasses.
Not sure what's going on with this contact lens project. Maybe it will be used for training scenarios.
@nutbastard: ROFL! Haha and I just got out of a match too.
So I have to ask as well: Does this mean when they level up they can also get 3 special perks? Does heavy rock music play every time they achieve some accomplishment?
@Mith: hahahaha, thanks that was good!
Personally I would be scared about the pentagon wanting to put something in my eye, but maybe that's just my authority complex talking
Oh, and also, can we swap back and forth from whichever team we want to be on (or whichever one has more points?) And can we get to fight on a boat that no matter how many bombs are dropped on it still floats?
question what happens if your eye itches so your rub your eyelid as it is closed, then your contact moves and goes upside down, will you have to invert your x and y axis for the dual analog controls?
As long as microsoft doesn't make the software for the lenses. Would suck to get the blue screen of death while in a gun fight
as far as i am aware, some contact lenses are surgically implanted.
I wanted to make a nifty CoD reference but I think all have been covered well.
Except for "Capture the Objective!"
And why do I feel it's much more likely this "innovation" will come from a gaming company before the US military?
I wonder if they will let you re-spawn to your squad leader? oh wait, thats BF2. Never mind.
Um. Do you not think this is just an attempt to desensitize the soldiers to the trials of war? I mean anything that could lessen the effect of PTSD on returning soldiers is great in my book, but I see this as a ploy to remove them from reality. That and anything the gov't can do to keep people in... My friends work on America's Army, so anything that gets them work works for me.
3-5 years? Will we still have enough soldiers?
Here comes Rainbow's End.....
[en.wikipedia.org]
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