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takyon writes:

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

Original Submission

1. "takyon" - https://soylentnews.org/~takyon/
2. "spelling an end" - https://www.engadget.com/2018/04/19/intel-cancels-smart-glasses-vaunt-superlight/
3. "The Information's" - https://www.theinformation.com/articles/intel-plans-to-shut-down-smart-glasses-group
4. "sell a majority stake" - https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/02/intel-augmented-reality-smart-glasses-superlite/
5. "Google Glass" - https://www.engadget.com/2017/08/07/google-glass-enterprise-edition-on-sale/
6. "Glasshole" - https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Glasshole&redirect=no
7. "The Verge" - https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/18/17255354/intel-vaunt-shut-down
8. "ZDNet" - https://www.zdnet.com/article/intel-abandons-vaunt-smart-glasses-project/
9. "AppleInsider" - https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/04/19/intel-to-shutter-new-devices-group-disband-team-behind-ar-smart-glasses
10. "Intel Unveils "Vaunt" Smartglasses" - https://soylentnews.org/article.pl?sid=18/02/05/1826208
11. "Original Submission" - https://soylentnews.org/submit.pl?op=viewsub&subid=26079

printed from SoylentNews, Intel Abandons Vaunt AR (Augmented Reality) Smartglasses on 2024-04-20 00:06:57