Intel planning to launch smart glasses this year

Intel is looking to sell a majority stake in an augmented reality company which it had bought in 2015, according to a report in Bloomberg. Also, the company is looking to launch smart glasses this year.

Bloomberg states that the company will probably be called Vaunt and will be valued at $350 million. The smart glasses are reportedly known as “Superlite” internally and will be made by Taiwanese manufacturer Quanta Computer. They’ll pair with a phone via Bluetooth, and the spectacles will be able to display contextual information into the wearer’s field of view with a laser-based projector that reflects off the lens and onto the retina.

Intel intends to attract investors who can contribute to the business with strong sales channels, industry or design expertise, rather than financial backers.

The company is planning to provide technology to other manufacturers of AR glasses should the consumer-facing Superlite glasses fail to take off. Intel is also willing to use the glasses as an example of what's possible, even if consumers don't buy in.

Intel had previously tried to launch a VR-like merged reality headset design known as Project Alloy, although that was shut down last year.