Chipmaker Intel has shown off a fashion-conscious “smart bracelet” dubbed MICA which it intends to put on sale in the USA at just under US$500.
Unlike most other wearables, MICA will not require a connection to a smartphone, CEO Brian Krzanich has previously said. It comes with its own cellular connection – in the USA’s case with two years of AT&T service.
The device is certainly snazzy, with a gold finish and choice of two styles based on variations in materials such as such as pearls, lapis stones, obsidian and tiger’s eye.
It comes with built-in GPS and a sapphire touchscreen. It displays short-form communications such as text messages and calendar notifications from Gmail and Facebook, as well as alerts of an “it’s time to go” sort, Intel said.
Users can respond to notifications with customisable, pre-written replies. The GPS connection allows them to receive notifications about nearby shops, restaurants or bargain offers.
– Footnote: MISA is pronounced “meeka” rather than “myca” – the initials stand for My Intelligent Communication Accessory, according to Krzsnich. And, incidentally, it does not use an Intel chip, but an ARM design.
