A Microsoft Research Connections project proposes to develop a contact lens that monitors blood glucose levels for type 1 diabetes patients. Other non-invasive alternatives to the finger-pricking method have also been explored elsewhere — such as this tear-based glucose sensor from Arizona State University, featured in MDB last June. According to Microsoft, this is representative of a trend toward Natural User Interface (NUI) technologies — technologies that aim to provide benefits to users without being intrusive. A new device on the market, the YumaLite, also appears to fit into this category.
The YumaLite is a light-therapy visor that is designed to treat the winter blues, or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Previous forms of light therapy for SAD required users to sit in front of a light box, but this device allows users to receive light therapy while undergoing normal activities like reading the paper or exercising.
As many in the industry know, compliance is a major factor in the success of any medical regimen. The more successfully and effortlessly the technology can integrate into patients' lives, the greater the benefit they will offer. It will be exciting to see how researchers continue to meet the demand for medical technologies with natural user interfaces in the future.
