Intel working on augmented reality headset: WSJ

PanARMENIAN.Net - Intel Corp. is developing a wearable headset to deliver augmented-reality experiences, the Wall Street Journal cited people briefed on the company’s plans as saying.

Intel plans to exploit its 3D camera technology called RealSense, these people said, a potentially distinguishing feature in a crowded field that includes Apple Inc., Microsoft Corp., Alphabet Inc.’s Google and a wave of startups.

The augmented-reality project is one way Intel hopes to exploit vision-related technologies to build new businesses outside the shrinking market for personal-computer processors. The Silicon Valley giant is likely to offer the headset design to other manufacturers rather than market its own model to end users, according to these people, who weren't aware of any manufacturing partners lined up yet.

Achin Bhowmik, who oversees RealSense as vice president and general manager of Intel’s perceptual computing group, declined to discuss unannounced development efforts.

But he said Intel has a tradition of creating prototypes for products like laptop computers to help persuade customers to use its components. “We have to build the entire experience ourselves before we can convince the ecosystem,” Bhowmik said, according to WSJ.

Under Chief Executive Brian Krzanich, Intel has been developing components for new markets like wearable fitness trackers, smart jewelry and drones. Augmented reality presents an additional opportunity, requiring not only the company’s microprocessors but also special-purpose image-processing chips and 3D camera components.

Intel has acquired at least five companies working on augmented-reality technology and has invested in and joined with others. In June 2015, for example, the company bought Recon Instruments, whose goggles for sports enthusiasts project information like maps and distances on a small display near the wearer’s right eye.