11. Bionic Sight

Bionic contacts are used not just to benefit visual impairments, but adaptations see the lens acting as a flexible plastic platform for internet based applications surfing a virtual screen, taking gamers into virtual worlds.  It also monitors a patient’s medical state, as well as assessing a diabetic's glucose levels through the tear ducts (retrieved July 17, 2012 from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22731631/ns/technology_and_science-innovation/t/vision-future-seen-bionic-contact-lens/#.UB_xOE0gfSh). 

Current world economic and or business motivations
The bionic lenses feature equally in the medical market, as in the digital technological market too.  Researchers at the University of Washington, in Seattle recently declared that their bionic contact lenses aim to, "stream text and images right in front of their wearer's eyeballs, are 'safe and feasible,' reports  BBC News," where safety tests in rabbits have shown no negative impacts, therefore research will continue. (retrieved August 7, 2012 from http://www.technologyreview.com/view/426250/bionic-contact-lenses-point-to-a-heads-anywhere/).  

What will be the impact on the market place and their competitors?
At this stage the major market lies in the Medical industries and the Digital Technological industries.  It appears that the bionic contact lens receives competition as another technology relies on implanting a device into the retina instead.  Both technologies aim to produce the same result, for instance:

"Both could access the wireless Web to keep you connected to the world’s vast database of knowledge, wherever you are. Well, it’s come out that at least two companies hope to start selling bionic eyes in the U.S. within the next 16 months.  Neither of these designs is made to surf the Web. Instead, these cutting-edge breakthroughs could help millions of blind or visually impaired people to see again" http://beforeitsnews.com/economy/2012/08/bionic-eyes-could-make-blindness-a-thing-of-the-past-2446744.html (retrieved October 8, 2012).  

The implantation process involves a four hour surgery where an antenna is implanted behind the patients eye and connected to a special pair of glasses containing a video camera.  The video captured is sent to a small computer (worn by the patient), that transforms it into instructions that signal the glasses by a cable.  A light sensation is experienced and interpreted as visual patterns. 

"The prosthetic system requires roughly 60 tiny electrodes to work. And it isn't cheap. Second Sight doesn't mention the price on its website, but the tech press has said the system runs roughly $115,000.Clearly, that’s a serious operation and high price tag;" http://www.technologyreview.com/view/426250/bionic-contact-lenses-point-to-a-heads-anywhere/ (retrieved October 8, 2012).  

Alternately, the bionic revolution is merely at its infancy stages of development.  As technology develops it becomes smaller, in turn cheaper.  

"There's clearly a market for such a device. And while the thing still seems almost too fantastical to believe, researchers say it's inching towards reality" http://www.technologyreview.com/view/426250/bionic-contact-lenses-point-to-a-heads-anywhere/ (retrieved October 8, 2012). 

Second Sight Medical products appears to be one major competitor providing the means to implants, as opposed to a contact lens.  As recorded: 

"The venture-funded firm recently began selling its Argus II implants in Europe and hopes to enter the U.S. market soon (by the way, Argus was a giant with 100 eyes in Greek mythology).  Indeed, just three weeks ago, Second Sight said the FDA will review data next month from foreign clinical trials that began in 2007" http://beforeitsnews.com/economy/2012/08/bionic-eyes-could-make-blindness-a-thing-of-the-past-2446744.html (retrieved October 8, 2012).