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Intel will shut down its New Devices Group, spelling an end to the company's Vaunt smartglasses project:
When Intel showed off its Vaunt smart glasses (aka "Superlight" internally) back in February, we had high hopes for a new wave of wearable tech that wouldn't turn us into Borgs. Alas, according to The Information's source, word has it that the chip maker is closing the group responsible for wearable devices which, sadly, included the Vaunt. This was later confirmed by Intel in a statement, which hinted at a lack of investment due to "market dynamics." Indeed, Bloomberg had earlier reported that Intel was looking to sell a majority stake in this division, which had about 200 employees and was valued at $350 million.
To avoid the awkwardness that doomed the Google Glass, Intel took the subtle approach by cramming a retinal laser projector -- along with all the other electronic bits, somehow -- into the Vaunt's ordinary-looking spectacle frame; plus there was no camera on it. The low-power projector would beam a red, monochrome 400 x 150 pixel image into the lower right corner of one's visual field, thus eliminating the need of a protruding display medium.
Vaunt is what you get when your committee is too scared of the "Glasshole" fiasco to make a useful product. People on camera could easily identify Google Glass because of its protruding head-mounted display and hardware, as well as the camera indicator light. Build the SoC and any flat buttons directly into a black frame, put small camera lenses at the hinges and/or center, use retinal laser projection or make the lenses into full field of view displays, and remove the indicator light. Then the wearer doesn't have a "Glasshole" problem (but those being viewed might still end up with a "Glasshole.")
Also at The Verge, ZDNet, and AppleInsider.
Previously: Intel Unveils "Vaunt" Smartglasses
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday April 19 2018, @06:15PM (1 child)
Whether the clothes will fit, whether the guy is a threat, whether that women is indeed Sarah Connor ...
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday April 19 2018, @06:22PM
Laughing. A man was laughing hysterically in a city alleyway. Who was this man, whose energetic laughs could heal the hearts and minds of those around him? His nickname was Billy the Prankster, and he was known and adored all throughout the city for his lighthearted mischief. In fact, he was known to every person in the city after a certain prank that he pulled. And what a comical prank it was.
Billy had played a prank on someone; that someone was a woman. But this prank was different, you see. Billy had forcibly held the woman down and violated her until she was pregnant, laughing all the while. The woman then went to the authorities and Billy was put on trial. Naturally, the court found that, since Billy was merely playing a prank on the woman's pussy, it was not True Rape. Furthermore, the court found that punishing Billy for his actions would be an egregious violation of men's rights. As such, the court deemed the lovable prankster not guilty immediately. Thanks to this prank and the trial that followed, Billy became known to - and loved by - every last person in the city. Now, back to the present.
What was Billy doing? Why was he in an alleyway, laughing to such a degree? What was so funny? Well, it was part of Billy's latest prank! Billy's fists were playing a prank on the aforementioned woman's face, and every time they slammed down, the prank became more comical. Slam! Slam! Slam! What a hilarious prank! Billy was laughing. Billy's fists were laughing. Even the woman was laughing! But the sound of the woman's laughter was different; it sounded like a bloodcurdling scream. Billy wondered why this was so, but then remembered that everyone was unique and congratulated her on her uniqueness. Finally, the woman's face collapsed and Billy's prank was complete.
A giggling man walked out of an alleyway. What pranks would he pull next...?