Chip giant Intel and eyewear manufacturer Luxottica Group are teaming up to incorporate smart technology into premium, luxury, and sports eyewear.
Details remain scant, but the partnership is in the early stages. The goal, they said, is to "push the boundaries of research and development to anticipate what smart technology for eyewear will look like in the future." The first device from Intel and Luxottica is expected to launch in 2015.
"The growth of wearable technology is creating a new playing field for innovation," Intel CEO Brian Krzanich said in a statement. "Through our collaboration with Luxottica Group, we will unite our respective ecosystems and bring together Intel's leading-edge silicon and software technology with Luxottica's design innovation and consumer expertise. We expect the combination of our expertise to help drive a much faster pace of innovation and push the envelope of what's possible."
"This is an incredible opportunity for us to continue to innovate and further shape the future of eyewear," Luxottica CEO Massimo Vian said. "Together with Intel, we will continue to develop the potential of wearables, expanding the limits of what eyewear can be. We'll lead the change to create frames that are as intelligence and functional as they are beautiful. Products that consumers will love to wear."
Earlier this week, reports indicated that the next-gen version of Google Glass would ditch Texas Instruments for Intel chips. Intel reportedly intends to market Glass to hospital networks and manufacturers, while also developing new workplace uses for the device.
Luxottica, meanwhile, cozied up to Google in March, announcing a partnership in which the eyewear maker would provide a team of experts to work on Glass products, developed specifically under its Ray-Ban and Oakley brands.
There's no word on how the Intel-Luxottica match-up might affect their work on Google Glass, if at all.
Intel has made a big push for wearables in 2014, beginning with its keynote at CES in January. More recently, at IDF in September, Intel discussed its work on chips that will power wearables and the Internet of Things. It also worked with fashion brand Opening Ceremony on a connected smart bracelet, dubbed Mica; for more, see PCMag's hands on and the slideshow above.