#13 Intel Curie: The Brain for low-cost, low-power wearables

Last year this month Intel's CEO Brian Krzanich introduced the world to the Intel Edison chip. This year he is introduced to us the Intel Curie, a button sized module using the Intel Quark SE SoC designed for wearables.

Curie is designed to be efficient at always on applications in form factors such as rings, bags, fitness trackers, and shoes to name a few.  

The Intel Curie module includes:

 Low power, 32-Bit Intel Quark microcontroller 384kB flash memory and 80kB SRAM 6-Axis accelerometer and gyroscope
 Battery charging circuitry (PMIC) Intel has created a software kit for wearable technology called Intel IQ. This software kit has been created to help developers and companies create fast wearable applications using Intel technology by including device, software, software for smartphone applications, cloud software and analytics capabilities. Currently they have released two software kits called Intel Body IQ and Intel Social IQ.

Intel Body IQ has a range of capabilities to name a few Intel Body IQ has algorithms and functions for counting steps, calculation of calories burned daily, visual device notifications for the status of the user. Intel Social IQ a few functions include device-to-device single state communication, notifications for user designated calls, SMS, social network notifications, and cloud portal for device companies to push brand notifications.

The Intel Curie module should come as no surprise to people as Intel has been putting a strong emphasis onto wearable technology in fitness and clothing with products and initiatives such as: 

 Basis Peak
 
 Fossil Group
 
 Luxottica Group
 
 MICA bracelet
 
 SMS Audio
 
 Intel Wearable Challenge
 
 Intel Vice President and GM of Intel's New Devices Group, Mike Bell, was quoted saying "In the future, we will see wearable products created by companies that have historically never used silicon before… It’s now up to the ecosystem to innovate with this technology; rings, bags, bracelets, pendants and yes, buttons, will all be possible."

Intel Curie is slated for release in the second half 2015.