Intel’s new Vaunt smart glasses had only just started making public appearances recently, but now it seems the wearable’s future is doomed. Apparently, there are plans for the California-based company to close down the division responsible for the Vaunt’s development. Intel had been trying to sell a majority stake of the New Devices Group for around US$350 million, but it appears the smart-glasses market has lost some of its sheen.
The Vaunt smart glasses seemed to be a promising piece of technology. Unlike the infamous Google Glass device, Vaunt did not feature a camera, thus avoiding obvious privacy concerns. Intel’s product also looked remarkably inconspicuous compared to some of the more outlandish entries in this particular market. The smart glasses contained a low-powered laser that in conjunction with a reflector could beam an image onto the wearer’s retina. But a favorable review is not enough to save a product in a rapidly evolving market that sometimes struggles to attract investment.