According to the Wall Street Journal, Chip giant Intel are poised to join the immersive technology race with a new Augmented Reality device using the company’s RealSense computer imaging systems.
Major player across industries are racing to join the immersive technology revolution it seems. Now, Intel is set to join with an augmented reality headset likely to be pitched against Microsoft’s HoloLens.
Not a huge amount of information is yet known about the project, but the Wall Street Journal claims that new wearable is to utilise Intel’s computer imaging technology known as RealSense, which is already making its way into laptops. WSJ claims that although Intel is allegedly working on a reference design for the new device, it’ll likely farm the device out to OEMs to deliver the physical devices.
At CES in January, Daqri showed off their Intel-RealSense-powered ‘Smart Helmet’, designed to aid industry workers in the field. The CES demo included an augmented view of a mock industrial setting which used a thermal imaging AR overlay to pinpoint heat-venting pipes.
Intel has been dipping its toes in the VR/AR water for a little while now. At CES 2015, we took a look at a collaboration between Intel and Social VR company AltSpace VR, who demonstrated their virtual reality application augmented by Intel RealSense 3D cameras, for use with hand-tracked input.
Note, this report from WSJ has not been confirmed by Intel, and when they were contacted, declined to comment on “unannounced development efforts”. However, given Intel’s thrust at 2 consecutive CES’ featuring Intel-powered immersive RealSense demonstrations, the story seems to fit Intel’s trajectory.
