• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

2

‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion

3

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic

1

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock

2

‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion

3

'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
TechGlobal 500

Five crazy devices showcased at Intel’s developer conference

By
Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian
Down Arrow Button Icon
August 18, 2015, 8:57 PM ET
Intel's dancing, robotic spider.
Intel's dancing, robotic spider.Jonathan Vanian
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Intel’s annual developer conference kicked off Tuesday like a circus. Robotic spiders danced on stage. A BMX biker launched off a ramp and over the head of Intel (INTC) CEO Brian Krzanich. And television producer Mark Burnett (producer of Survivor and Shark Tank, among others) announced a new reality TV show in which contestants will be judged on the gear they create using Intel hardware.

But the event wasn’t all pomp. There were several innovative man-made creations on the demo floor that highlight the ways motion-scanning technology, specialized chips, and 3-D cameras can be used to make gear that businesses can actually use.

Here are a few of those interesting devices:

Connected gloves for manufacturing

One of the most time-consuming tasks for auto workers is scanning barcodes, explained Sebastian Petruch of the Munich-based startup ProGlove. As workers piece together cars, they have to scan barcodes on each part to help keep track of inventory.

ProGlove’s gloves are intended to help speed things up. They’re hooked up to a small wristband device with sensors that connect wirelessly to a company’s data center. The device also comes loaded with a barcode scanner that can be triggered by pressing a small button on the pointer finger.

ProGlove. By Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian

 

When workers press the button, a red light shoots out that scans the barcode, and the device can then transmit data back to the company’s servers. This task supposedly saves workers hundreds of hours annually and can also be used to track their location in the warehouse.

Wear this connected wristband and belt and save your back

It’s common for workers toiling away in warehouses to have bad backs. If you spend hours of your day lifting heavy objects, chances are that you are likely to lift incorrectly and put unnecessary strain on your back.

Kinetic CTO showing off the gear. By Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian

New York-based Kinetic aims to help workers lift boxes better with a connected wristband and belt armed with sensors and algorithms that can track a human’s movement when lifting an object. People who fail to bend their knees or who twist instead of turn hear a buzz that encourages them to lift correctly.

Hate the color of your red shirt? Try out this mirror and swap colors.

Have you ever visited a department store, saw a shirt you really liked, but only one color was available that you could try on to see how it looked? Memomi has you covered with its Memomi Memory Mirror embedded with Intel’s RealSense 3D camera technology that lets users see how their clothes would look if they were different colors.

Don't like the color of your shirt? Then look into this magical mirror.
Don’t like the color of your shirt? Then look into this magical mirror. By Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian

The company’s mirror is currently up and running in a Neiman-Marcus department store in San Francisco. By fall, 16 Neiman-Marcus stores are expected to be outfitted with the mirror for customers to try out.

As of now, the mirror only lets users swap out solid colors. But eventually the mirror will be able to handle complex patterns like plaid, said Ofer Saban, chief technology officer for Memomi.

Sensor tech to help athletes train better

Intel showed off how its tiny Curie chip, loaded with flash memory and a sensor, can help BMX bikers perform tricks better. The company set up a ramp in which BMX bikers could ride and fly through the air, all while the Curie chips embedded in their bikes recorded their movements and told them how well they pulled off their stunts.

Biker showing off for the crowd. By Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian
Screen displaying the biker's tricks and how well they pulled it off.
Screen displaying the biker’s tricks and how well they pulled it off. By Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian

As Krzanich explained during the keynote session, this type of device can be used as a training tool as it scores the user on how well he or she pulled off a stunt. I can easily picture a swarm of businessmen with sensors loaded into their golf clubs giving them feedback on how well they swing.

Don’t have a racecar? Try this virtual racecar instead

If you’ve always wondered what it feels like to get behind the wheel of a NASCAR racecar, this virtual racecar simulator by VRX may just be what you are looking for.

Armed with three high-quality TV screens, a driver’s seat, and stereo system, would-be drivers can get behind the wheel and race around several virtual racetracks. All the while, the chair generates the bumps and rickety ride that cruising over 140 miles per hour might feel like.

Intel’s RealSense 3D camera technology comes loaded into the simulator too, so when drivers moves their heads, the screens display the correct image as if they were looking around in a real car.

VRX racing simulator. By Jonathan Vanian
Jonathan Vanian

The whole thing feels like a glorified version of an arcade racing games. If you want to join the NASCAR racers who bought this device or the amateurs who have the space in their house to accommodate something so big, be prepared to plunk down $10,000 to $300,000 dollars. This particular model being demoed can be had for $84,000, said Chad Grice of VRX.

Subscribe to Data Sheet, Fortune’s daily newsletter on the business of technology.

For more on wearable technology, check out the following Fortune video:

About the Author
By Jonathan Vanian
LinkedIn iconTwitter icon

Jonathan Vanian is a former Fortune reporter. He covered business technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, data privacy, and other topics.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Tech

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • TikTok icon
  • YouTube icon

Latest in Tech

Kid watching social media
PoliticsSocial Media
France adopts bill to ban kids under 15 from using social media
By The Associated PressJuly 21, 2026
2 hours ago
Christopher Nolan interacts with fans at Odyssey premier
Arts & EntertainmentHollywood
‘He’s an analog man in a digital AI world’: Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ made back its $250M budget in 3 days without industrywide AI cost cutting
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 21, 2026
2 hours ago
Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis
AIEye on AI
A FINRA for AI? The idea from Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis is gaining momentum. But is it any good?
By Jeremy KahnJuly 21, 2026
2 hours ago
Two students stand next to each other and look at the papers they are holding.
AIEducation
Study finds AI boosted homework scores 18%—then tanked exam results 20%
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 21, 2026
4 hours ago
math
AIScience
Mathematicians grapple with a ‘very rapid and very unsettling change’ as AI cracks yet another century-old problem
By Eva RoytburgJuly 21, 2026
4 hours ago
kalshi
CryptoKalshi
Kalshi’s ‘chronically online’ war room figured out World Cup virality — and realized AI might be bringing back the monoculture
By Nick LichtenbergJuly 21, 2026
8 hours ago

Most Popular

Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
Success
Mark Cuban says he has the solution to growing income inequality, and it's to reward every employee—from CEO to janitor—with company stock
By Sasha RogelbergJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago
‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion
Success
‘I want to die broke’: Billionaire philanthropist Denny Sanford dies after giving away $4 billion
By Sydney LakeJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago
'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
AI
'Dr. Doom' Nouriel Roubini says we're headed for universal basic income or 'some form of socialism' as AI revolutionizes work—He calls that optimistic
By Jason MaJuly 18, 2026
3 days ago
The Treasury is walking a tightrope on U.S. debt by relying so much on short-term rates that are at the mercy of a suddenly very hawkish Fed
Economy
The Treasury is walking a tightrope on U.S. debt by relying so much on short-term rates that are at the mercy of a suddenly very hawkish Fed
By Jason MaJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 20, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of silver as of Monday, July 20, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 20, 2026
1 day ago
Jamie Dimon won't put more of his own money into the long end of the bond market right now—thanks to the $39 trillion national debt
Economy
Jamie Dimon won't put more of his own money into the long end of the bond market right now—thanks to the $39 trillion national debt
By Eleanor PringleJuly 21, 2026
10 hours ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.