FX.co ★ Intel Developer Forum 2016

Intel, the world's computer giant, is now interested in expanding the cloud empire, uniting billions of "smart" devices, which are capable to influence the future.

The annual IDF 2016 conference was held in San Francisco (USA) in August 16-18. At the exhibition Intel introduced devices that, according to their developers, would change the world and the future.

Intel has unveiled a virtual reality headset that allows nearby objects from the real world to be integrated into its computer-generated views. It describes Project Alloy as being a "merged reality" device. One key advantage, Intel says, is that users will be able to see their own hands. Inside the headset there is a screen with lenses, a computer unit with a Core i7 processor with integrated graphics, sensors and a battery.

Mixed-reality system will place user's hands, arms and real-world objects into a virtual world without the need for a series of external sensors. The creators of the novelty note that the device scans the environment itself, determining what is in front of it.

The headset uses Intel's RealSense cameras, which have depth-sensing capabilities, to allow, without the need for additional sensors, objects such as the user's hands to be tracked and entered into the virtual world displayed within the goggles. Most other VR headsets, including Sony's upcoming PSVR, require a series of cameras, sensors and accessories to be placed about a room or held in the hand to enable similar functions.

As far as car manufacturing is concerned, Intel employees introduced the BMW i3, driven automatically. The developers shared information about how the process of an unmanned vehicle's creation is proceeding. By 2020, Intel intends to release a fully autonomous machine.

The concept of the "Internet of Things" (IoT) and the more global development of this idea - "smart" city were also considered at the event. Of course, this topic was not new, but the company presented its vision. Within the framework of the proposed topic, a so-called "smart" lamppost was demonstrated. Its functions include switching on and off the light, monitoring the weather and the flow of pedestrians and cars and the direction of their movement.

One of the most important topics of the conference was the updated models of computers. It was also about the Core, the seventh-generation processor. The emphasis was on graphics performance and power consumption. These characteristics have been significantly improved compared to the previous models, the company's representatives noted.