Intel to Close Entire Division, Ditching Vaunt Smart Glasses

Intel Vaunt, the low-profile smart glasses, will not hit the market anytime soon. According to a report by The Information, Intel will shut down the entire division that was working on Intel Vaunt smart glasses and other fitness trackers.

Intel Vaunt was announced late last year and looked like a regular pair of glasses. What made it special was the low-power red laser combined with a reflector to project images onto the user’s retina. The notifications were only visible at 15 degrees below a relaxed line of sight so you’d only see them if you wanted to. 

Designed as an unobtrusive, smart wearable, the Vaunt had all the electronic components discreetly tucked into the stems of the glasses. However, it seems like Intel doubted their ability to turn a decent profit:

“Intel is continuously working on new technologies and experiences. Not all of these develop into a product we choose to take to market. The Superlight project [aka Vaunt] is a great example where Intel developed truly differentiated, consumer augmented reality glasses. We are going to take a disciplined approach as we keep inventing and exploring new technologies, which will sometimes require tough choices when market dynamics don’t support further investment.”

While Intel’s announcement is nothing to be happy about, the company hasn’t dropped the subject completely. For those looking for smart glasses, you might want to check out Level Smart Glasses. A similarly low-profile look, they focus more on fitness tracking and encouraging you to hit fitness goals through points that are used to donate to charities.