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The EU introduces new crypto rules to protect against fraud and climate impact
Europe and its member states have agreed on new crypto regulations that "ensure high standards for consumer protection."
Intel's MICA smart bracelet has more style than substance (hands-on)
Everyone knew Intel would craft some wearable gadgets. Hardly any of us expected it to be, well, this insane thing. That bangle -- the MICA -- lives at the less-bizarre-by-the-day intersection between technology and high fashion. Intel and its design partners at Opening Ceremony finally let us pedestrian techie types get our hands on the thing, so take a stroll past the break to see what happens when high tech and haute couture collide.
Here's another reason you won't buy Intel's luxury wearable
Looking for a good way to alienate potential customers? Well, there's always the tried and true method: lock your device down to a specific carrier. Intel's MICA (My Intelligent Communication Accessory) $1,000 ballpark price tag and snakeskin coverings were bound to limit its customer base, but the company just announced it has one more barrier for entry -- the 3G enabled bangle is going to be exclusive to AT&T. Not that there's anything wrong with old Ma Bell, but some people find magenta just as fashionable.
Intel introduces a snakeskin smart cuff for fancy humans
We understand: you want to get into the whole wearable tech thing, but what's holding you back is how fugly most current offerings are. That shouldn't deter you for long, as Intel has made good on its promise to make a smart-bracelet that doesn't look like an overgrown phone strapped to your wrist. It's called the MICA (My Intelligent Communication Accessory) and the notification-bracelet be available at Opening Ceremony and high-end retailer Barney's for the holiday shopping season this year, according to USA Today. Pricing isn't quite set in stone yet, but an Intel rep tells CNET that the cuff-style gadget will run under $1,000. Slightly expensive for a a wearable, sure, but not so much when compared against, say, a piece of traditional jewelry. The MICA comes in black and white (as illustrated by the image above), and will feature either Chinese pearls and lapis stones or tiger's eye and obsidian depending on which color of watersnake skin you opt for. Snazzy!
Sweden develops MICA: the intelligent, autonomous wheelchair
There's not much like getting off the couch and moving around a bit (well, not always), and a Swedish dissertation has uncovered an intelligent wheelchair that sports remote-controlled or autonomous operation. Sven Rönnbäck of Luleå University of Technology in Sweden has developed the Mobile Internet Connected Assistant (MICA), which offers up a presumably comfortable looking set of wheels to those who lack the ability to move on their own. Similar to the technology found in the Good Bytes Cafe, this wheelchair utilizes the built-in "distance-metering sensor to discover the surfaces that are available," and the technology can also be used to "ensure that the wheelchair is being used in a safe manner." The target market is "severely handicapped individuals who would otherwise find it difficult to steer a wheelchair," as these folks could take full advantage of the head-controlled interface in order to instruct the machine where to go next. Best of all, the device can learn and store maps of one's home, giving blind and visually impaired individuals the chance to cart around their crib without worrying over foreign objects foiling their plans. While we haven't heard of any VCs grabbing hold of this marvel just yet, we're sure that opportunity isn't too far away, and we're all about finding new ways to blaze a path. [Warning: PDF link][Via Gizmag]
