Intel boosts wireless credentials with button size SoC for wearable devices
Intel® Curie™ is driven by a purpose-built wearable low-poser, 32-bit SoC, the Intel® Quark™ SE, which can run for extended periods from a coin-sized battery and features motion sensor, Bluetooth radio, and battery charging circuitry (PMIC).
The module also boasts 384 kB Flash memory, 80 kB SRAM, a low-power integrated DSP sensor hub with a proprietary pattern matching accelerator, and 6-axis combo sensor with accelerometer and gyroscope.
“Last year, we partnered with leading technology, fashion and lifestyle brands to help build a robust wearable ecosystem," said Mike Bell, vice president and general manager of Intel’s New Devices Group. “With the Intel® Curie™ module, Intel will continue to push the envelope of what’s possible and enable companies to quickly and effectively build low-power wearables in various form factors.”
The Intel® Curie™ module is a complete low-power system designed for companies interested in developing wearable technology. The module is ideal for "always-on" applications such as social media, sports, and fitness activities. This can enable efficient and intelligent wearable devices for a broad range of form factors — including rings, bags, bracelets, pendants, fitness trackers, even buttons.
To speed the development of wearable products based on the Intel® Curie™ module, Intel is providing a gamma of software that includes a small and efficient real-time operating system (RTOS) together with reference wearable applications called Intel® IQ Software kits. The kits include the embedded software that runs on this module together with companion smartphone applications and associated cloud capabilities.
Brian Krzanich holds the Intel® Curie™ button-sized prototype at CES 2015.
According to Intel, the growth of wearable technology is creating a new playing field for innovation, hence the rationale for the Intel® Curie™. The module is scheduled to ship in the second half of this year, and follows a rapid rise in activity in the wearable market by Intel.
Recently, the company has announced multiple products and initiatives with different fashion, fitness and lifestyle brands. These efforts include Basis Peak, Fossil Group, Luxottica Group, MICA and Opening Ceremony, SMS Audio, and the Intel "Make it Wearable" challenge.
Building on this work, Intel and Oakley just 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.
"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.
At CES 2015, Krzanich also highlighted Nixie, the 2014 "Make it Wearable" challenge winner and the first wearable camera that can fly. Nixie rests on your wrist like a bracelet, then unfolds and takes flight on cue to take the perfect shot of you in the moment. Krzanich added that Intel will sponsor the Intel "Make it Wearable" challenge again later this year.
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