Intel has made a pair of prototype Smart glasses, called Vaunt, and unlike most other glasses, they look ordinary. According to The Verge, the "smart" part of Intel's glasses is designed to be as unobtrusive as possible. The information that the glasses give is actually projected onto your retina using lasers.
What makes Intel's new glasses so different is that smart glasses typically make one look like they're wearing technology on their face. Just look at Google's smart glasses, Google Glass, which had a projector mounted onto a pair of glasses.
Intel, on the other hand, is making its glasses blend in, not stand out.
Hidden smarts
Vaunt uses a very low powered laser to beam images directly onto your retina, ensuring that they don't show up for anyone else and allowing the glasses to work with all prescriptions. Don't worry, this won't damage your eyes according to Popular Mechanics. However, the result is a display that is only visible to you, with a slight red glare appearing to anyone else.
The way the glasses are set up means that the display isn't visible unless you look directly at the area where it is supposed to appear, the lower right corner of the glasses. This means that it won't be obvious when you check Facebook instead of listening to your date talk about their past relationships.
This disappearing display doesn't mean that you'll miss information since your eyes do notice things in your peripheral vision; your brain just ignores the information unless it's something new.
Features
Vaunt will pass most of its information along to your phone, like Fitbit, but will support some apps and work with both iPhone and Android, according to Business Insider.
Intel also plans to integrate voice assistants. The glasses are meant to augment your reality, such as displaying flight information as you pick up your luggage after going through security in the airport, but Intel says they aren't meant to replace your other displays. They're more meant for displaying temporary information when you need it and have your hands full.
It's likely that Intel will bring the glasses to market, and, according to Bloomberg, the company is looking for investors who have strong sales channels. Also, according to PCmag, Intel plans to launch an early access program to allow developers the chance to start creating apps to work with the glasses and eventually hopes to offer different, prescription-friendly styles.
