Virtual reality contact lenses that beam images directly into your eyes could be on sale in 2014

* Equivalent to a 240-inch 3D television from 10 feet
* Can layer 'augmented reality' information over world
* Company also working with U.S. army

By Rob Waugh

Contact lenses which focus 3D screens directly into people's eyeballs could be on sale as early as 2014, says U.S. company Innovega.

The tiny 'screens' sit directly on users' eyeballs and work with a pair of lightweight glasses with a built-in translucent screen.

The experience is equivalent to a 240-inch television viewed at a distance of 10 feet, says Innovega's CEO Steve Willey

The devices can 'pair' with smartphones and portable game devices to deliver up-close video - or switch to a translucent 'augmented reality' view, where computer information is layered over the world we know.

Crucially, the devices can be worn while moving about - previous bulky 'VR headsets' have blindfolded their users and can only be used sitting down.

The effect could be similar to the lenses worn by Tom Cruise in Minority Report.

The company is also developing hi-tech lenses for use by American soldiers, feeding battlefield information directly into their eyes.

DARPA - the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, thought of as the American military's 'mad scientist' wing - has been funding research on 'soldier mounted displays' for some time.

It's now working on 'iOptik' lenses with Innovega.

The lenses, made with nano-scale engineering processes,work as a hi-tech focusing device, which allows Innovega's glasses to be considerably less bulky than previous devices.

The lenses themselves require no power, and thus can sit safely on the eyeball.

The lenses, made with nano-scale engineering processes,work as a hi-tech focusing device, which allows Innovega's glasses to be considerably less bulky than previous devices.

The lenses themselves require no power, and thus can sit safely on the eyeball.