The Strategist

Intel comes up with smart glasses that look like ordinary specs



02/06/2018 - 11:23



Intel company developed a prototype of smart glasses called Vaunt, which can project the image directly onto the retina. Unlike Google Glass, they look like the most usual glasses, weigh a little more than a normal frame, and allow the use of dioptric lenses.



Intel
Intel
Unlike Google Glass, Vaunt much more resemble conventional glasses and support dioptric lenses. The weight of the gadget including the entire filling (battery, Bluetooth-module, accelerometer, compass and projector) does not exceed 50 g. The battery life is 18 hours.

Users of Intel Vaunt glasses see the information on the screen in front of them. But in fact, there is no screen with glasses, and the picture is projected directly onto the retina using a low-power laser. The displayed information can be different: paved route, time, notifications from instant messengers and social networks and much more. Outside observers do not see if the Intel Vaunt user is shown anything or not.

Intel itself emphasizes that the laser is absolutely harmless to the eye. In fact, Vaunt is a display system in the peripheral field of view of the user. And due to the fact that the image appears directly on the retina, the eyes do not need to be focused, and the signal is equally clear for those who have perfect vision, both nearsighted and farsighted.

The device is capable of displaying simple messages or notifications from smartphones based on Android or iOS. The information is transferred via Bluetooth wireless connection from an application that works in the background on the mobile device.

Unlike Google Glass, Intel's glasses do not have a speaker or a camera. It is assumed that the owners of the 1st generation device will be able to use gestures for control, for example, by nodding the head. Future Vaunt models will be equipped with a microphone with access to voice assistants.

The glasses work up to 18 hours from one charge, that is, about the same as the first version of Apple Watch. The time of the first prototype of Google Glass was limited to four hours.

The company also plans that Vaunt glasses will become an open platform for developing additional software by third-party developers. The Early Access Program and the SDK will be available near the end of 2018. It is too early to speak about beginning of mass production and prices as developers will have access to test glasses and SDK models by the end of 2018.

Intel has not yet come up with a particular use for Vaunt since there is too many features. In 2018, the company will allow individual developers to familiarize themselves with the glasses and start writing programs for them. Price for the glasses and approximate terms of their appearance on sale are still unknown.

source: theverge.com