How’s it going everybody. I was reading an article related
to the topic of Internet of Things (commonly referred to as “IoT”) and I find it
very interesting how this will change our society, culture, and the way we
communicate. I often wonder how connected devices will simplify or complicate
our lives, and what the security and privacy risks we are trading for this
connected life.
With spider robots and BMX bike stunts taking the stage
at the opening keynote for this year's Intel Developer Forum (and hardly any
details about actual chips) it's clear Intel wants to be known for more than
just computer CPUs. It's a wise move, especially if you consider the dwindling
PC market. Indeed, the company has been on this trajectory for a while now,
with a push into the Internet of Things (remember the smart mug and connected
baby onesie from CES 2014?). More recently, too, the company has made a big
investment in wearables with its button-sized Curie module and the purchase of
several wearable companies, including Basis and Recon. Intel has also branched
out into other arenas, like RealSense, its depth-sensing, 3D-scanning tech. As
Brian Krzanich, Intel's CEO, said during an interview at IDF: "We want to
be everywhere."
That is certainly the case with wearables, which
Krzanich pointed out to me during a brief tour of the IDF show floor. "I
believe we can bring a lot of capability to wearables, probably more than what
you see now," he said. "We can make them much more connected."
As mentioned earlier, there was a BMX stunt bike at the show equipped with
Intel's tiny Curie module to record data like bike spin, airtime and maximum
height. But imagine if the cyclist was also sporting a wearable that measured
heartrate, or a pair of smart goggles that told him how fast he was going. You
could potentially combine all of that information, said Krzanich, and get some
really interesting data on your performance. "It's not just for athletes;
you and I could use it too," he said. "There's no reason [for
example] we can't transfer this same technology to your wristband or your golf
club. And suddenly you're an intelligent golfer."
"Here's one of our newest employees," he said
suddenly. We were standing on the ground floor of Moscone West in San Francisco
when he smiled and gestured toward a yellow Labrador, who was wearing a guide
dog bib. "We're going to start working to build dog collars to help people
understand how to better train guide dogs," he explained. It was a brief
insight into how Intel is looking into integrating its tech beyond just the
usual wearable, although Krzanich was also quick to show off already-announced
items like the Recon Jet and Mica bracelet.
Krzanich was also keen to show off the capabilities of
Intel's RealSense, another passion project within the company. More than just a
camera, RealSense aims to mimic the human eye, especially in terms of its depth
perception. This, Krzanich said, makes interacting with technology much more
natural and immersive. "Most cameras see in two dimensions. Ours see in
three. It's multilayered and much, much richer," he said. Imagine waving
your hand over a vending machine to select what you want or a video game racing
rig that knows where your gaze lands so the view of the cockpit moves with you.
Indeed, the most futuristic part of the IDF show floor
was an area dedicated to RealSense. There were robot butlers that were smart
enough to navigate rooms, 3D scanners that could scan your body and then send
it to a 3D printer, depth-sensing drones that knew not to fly into trees and
magical mirrors that let you virtually try on clothes. And, as was announced
earlier this week, a smartphone integrated with Google's Project Tango that
puts the power of 3D scanning in your pocket.
While Intel's interest in wearables is much more
immediate, its investment in RealSense is a bet on the future -- a sign that
the company plans to cover as many bases as it can. When asked to sum up
Intel's overall direction, Krzanich was ambitious: "You'll see Intel in
every kind of device. From mirrors, to drones, to PCs and datacenters."
And, yes, even spider robots.
Source: Engadget
Source: Engadget
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