The announcements included the Intel® Curie™ module, a button-sized hardware product for wearable solutions; new applications for Intel® RealSense™ cameras spanning robots, flying multi-copter drones and 3-D immersive experiences; and a broad, new Diversity in Technology initiative, which includes a $300 million investment to encourage more diversity at Intel and within the technology industry at large.
"The rise of new personal computing experiences, intelligent and connected devices, and the wearable revolution are redefining the relationship between consumers and technology," said Brian Krzanich, Intel CEO.
"Our goal with Intel technology is to help solve real problems and enable experiences that are truly desired by people and businesses.
In order to do this, we must also do more to lead the growth of diversity and inclusion within the technology industry. Women and under-represented minorities will continue to play a greater role as consumers, influencers, creators and leaders."
Krzanich made the announcements during a keynote address at the event. He also unveiled a wearable device collaboration with Oakley, a leading product design and sport performance eyewear brand, a 3-D collaboration with HP, and highlighted True Key, a new cross-platform application by Intel Security that uses personal factors like the face, device or fingerprint to make logging in easier and safer.
The growth of wearable technology is creating a new playing field for innovation. Krzanich disclosed plans for the Intel Curie module, a tiny hardware product based on the company's first purpose-built system-on-chip (SoC) for wearable devices.
The module is scheduled to ship in the second half of this year and includes the Intel Quark SE SoC, Bluetooth low-energy radio, sensors and battery charging.
Building on Intel’s work in the wearable technology segment, Intel and Oakley announced a strategic wearables collaboration.
Oakley is the first Luxottica Group brand that Intel is working with to fuse premium, luxury and sports eyewear with smart technology.
Krzanich was joined on stage by Colin Baden, CEO of Oakley, who said the companies are working on an intelligent product, available later this year, designed to enhance athletes' performance.
Krzanich, who acknowledged a recent confluence of events related to women and under-represented minorities, announced the Diversity in Technology initiative.
To support this initiative, Intel has set a bold new hiring and retention goal to achieve full representation of women and under-represented minorities at Intel by 2020.
Full representation means Intel’s U.S. workforce will be more representative of the talent available in America, including more balanced representation in senior leadership positions.
Intel also plans to invest $300 million to help build a pipeline of female and under-represented engineers and computer scientists; to actively support hiring and retaining more women and under-represented minorities; and to fund programs to support more positive representation within the technology and gaming industries.
"We're calling on our industry to again make the seemingly impossible possible by making a commitment to real change and clarity in our goals," said Krzanich.
"Without a workforce that more closely mirrors the population, we are missing opportunities, including not understanding and designing for our own customers."
Krzanich also highlighted several new technologies and real-world applications that will usher computing into a 3-D world and also free the experience from wires and passwords.
Krzanich demonstrated a range of capabilities that will be introduced in products by the end of the year, including True Key, a newly announced cross-platform application by Intel Security to address the hassle of passwords.
The True Key application uses personal factors like the face, device or fingerprint to make logging in easier and safer.
True Key is supported on iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and across all your favorite browsers.
Intel's CEO said Intel RealSense cameras and new immersive applications can be found in a growing number of 2 in 1s, tablets, notebooks and all-in-one PCs, including many powered by the new 5th generation Intel Core processors available this quarter.
Krzanich highlighted a number of areas where the rise of connected computing intelligence is helping to reshape many facets of people's daily lives.
He showcased practical, real-world examples for robots and multi-copter drones and said that Intel RealSense cameras can provide intuitive, sight-based collision avoidance capabilities for solving complex problems.
Photo Caption - Brian Krzanich with Intel Curie Prototype.