A low-powered laser beams images into your eye. Vaunt is mainly aimed at giving you relatively simple heads-up notifications. Intel says that the glasses are more stealthy than a smartwatch, allowing you to check notifications while doing other activities. In one demo, it showed that you could see a person’s birthday and other pertinent personal info while you’re chatting with them on the phone. The motion sensors can also detect whether you’re in the kitchen, for instance, and give you recipes or a shopping list.
You might be worried about having a laser beamed into your eyeball, but “it is so low-power that it’s at the very bottom end of a class one laser,” Intel New Devices Group’s Mark Eastwood told the Verge. On top of that, the display isn’t even visible unless you look at it, making it unobtrusive for wearers. As it’s beamed onto the back of your retina, it’s always in focus, regardless of whether you have prescription or non-prescription lenses.
The end of Vaunt?
Although Intel’s Vaunt glasses promised convenience beyond that offered by smart watches and mobile phones, their obvious potential was apparently not enough to secure outside investment.
Bloomberg reported that Intel valued its smart glasses division at $350 million and was looking for an external investor to help take the project forward. However, it would appear that there were no takers, and Intel has confirmed that the New Devices Group will now be closing its doors for good.
In a statement, the company said that it’s “continuously working on new technologies and experiences. Not all of these develop into a product we choose to take to market”.
A spokesperson for Intel added:
Intel will continue to take a disciplined approach as we keep inventing and exploring new technologies, which will sometimes require tough choices when market dynamics don’t support further investment.
The end of Vaunt?
Although Intel’s Vaunt glasses promised convenience beyond that offered by smart watches and mobile phones, their obvious potential was apparently not enough to secure outside investment.
Bloomberg reported that Intel valued its smart glasses division at $350 million and was looking for an external investor to help take the project forward. However, it would appear that there were no takers, and Intel has confirmed that the New Devices Group will now be closing its doors for good.
In a statement, the company said that it’s “continuously working on new technologies and experiences. Not all of these develop into a product we choose to take to market”.
A spokesperson for Intel added: