Electronic Products & Technology

Intel’s wearable challenge sets stage for future tech sector

EP&T Magazine   

Electronics Engineering Electronics

Six industry luminaires in fields from fashion and design to fitness and retail are joining Intel CEO Brian Krzanich as judges in the Intel “Make It Wearable” challenge, helping to shape the future of wearable technology. On Nov. 3, they will select three winners who will be awarded a total of US$800,000.

“We selected judges for the ‘Make it Wearable’ panel that also see unlimited potential for fashionable, personal expression in wearables and are excited for wearable creations that best marry form and function”

Judges include Best Buy president and CEO Hubert Joly; Chairman of North America for LVMH Moët Hennessy; Louis Vuitton S.A.; Pauline Brown, Nike; vice-president and general manager for Digital Sport Stefan Olander; Rebecca Minkoff, co-founder and CEO Uri Minkoff; SMS Audio president Brian Nohe and tennis ace Venus Williams.

To accelerate innovation in the wearables space, Intel is bringing together great minds outside of the technology industry to provide their distinct perspectives and help push the creative envelope around design, aesthetics and functionality. With expertise in design, fashion, fitness, retail and user experience, the judges provide unique insights for the finalists in marrying design and aesthetics with function and form.

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“We selected judges for the ‘Make it Wearable’ panel that also see unlimited potential for fashionable, personal expression in wearables and are excited for wearable creations that best marry form and function,” said Krzanich. “Wearables are in their infancy. Collaboration between entrepreneurs and experts in technology, design, retail, fashion and fitness will be necessary for the development of wearables that solve real problems, integrate into lifestyles and that people will love.”

With thousands of submissions, the “Make it Wearable” challenge engaged creative thinkers, inspired ideas to evolve personal computing, and spurred innovation and creativity in the development of wearable devices.

The ten finalists hailing from China, Europe, Latin America and the United States will present to the esteemed panel and will be judged on concept, feasibility, market demand and human impact. They are competing for a first place prize of US$500,000, a second place prize of US$200,000 and a third place prize of US$100,000.

The ten final concepts, all powered by Intel® Edison, include a wearable camera that flies, bionic mattress for babies in the neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU), first-person broadcast system for professional athletes, low-cost robotic hand, sports necklace for athletes, bracelet that manages body temperature, wearable device designed for skiers, baby guard for expecting mothers and infants, hand-worn production tool, and smart watch with interchangeable hardware.

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