Intel is a name in the tech industry that it's hard to ignore. As I type on this Samsung Chromebook 3 right now, I look to my right and notice that the sticker indicates there's "Intel Inside" my Chromebook. Intel makes processors, modems, and is the company behind the Basis Peak smartwatch recall that saw devices burning users' skin recently (yes, Intel makes smartwatches, too). The company behind smartwatch manufacturing (it acquired Basis two years ago) has also been a goodwill company investing in other projects, such as TAG Heuer's first foray into the smartwatch market with its Android Wear-powered, Connected Carrera smartwatch that retails for $1,500. Remember the Android Wear-connected Fossil Q Founder? Yep, it has an Intel Atom processor. Even the new iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus have Intel modems.
This Intel is back to push its reach into more than just smartwatches. Intel has encouraged Israeli company Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to join it in creating a monitoring wearable for Huntington's disease. As you may know, Huntington's Disease is one that affects the nervous system and brain, a disease that slows and reduces motor skills over time. There is no cure for Huntington's disease.
Huntington's Disease patients will wear the new wearable and have it tethered to a smartphone that will record the data. "The data from the devices will then be wirelessly streamed to a cloud-based platform, developed by Intel, that will translate it, in near real-time, into scores to assess motor symptom severity," Reuters says.
Intel's newest project is one that we fully support, as wearables are great and portable devices that can be used on the go. At the same time, too, we realize that technology does little good if it doesn't make a true difference in the world. Sure, wearables will always be efficient in helping consumers "get things done," but helping those who are suffering and struggling under the weight of sickness and physical difficulties is an act of goodwill toward society that shows we care about more than the instant gratification of new tweets, Twitter messages, phone calls, texts, and Instagram photos.
A world in which companies like Intel invest in the fight against life-threatening diseases is one in which wearables serve a truly universal significance. Some say that wearables aren't relevant or useful enough, but Intel's latest project, once complete, could very well challenge and change that notion.
