Skip to main content

Intel’s Joule is a maker platform so small it can be installed in safety glasses

intel announces joule maker platform 4k cameras lightweight glasses
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Intel announced Joule at its Intel Developers Forum in San Francisco. The latest incarnation of Intel’s platform for creating Internet Of Things devices, it was shown in a demo highlighting one potential use — supplemented safety glasses that can spot problems in aircraft manufacturing.

Joule is a lightweight, low power usage board capable of processing 4K video on-board. Brian Krzanich, Intel’s CEO, called Joule “the newest and highest performance maker platform Intel has made” during the keynote speech at the 2016 Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco.

To demonstrate Joule, Intel showed off a pair of Pivot Head safety glasses augmented with Joule. The scenario was this — an employee in an aircraft building facility is attaching bolts, and needs to ensure the right sizes are used in all locations. The glasses were capable of verifying this is being done correctly.

“With advanced computervision capabilities, we’re able to provide realtime feedback to workers about their tasks,” said the demonstrator. “All computation is done right on the unit.”

When employees make a mistake, the glasses say so out loud, preventing mistakes that could prove fatal.

The glasses are an example of a “lightweight devices you can easily wear all day,” said the presenter. “You can take something that workers are wearing already, and do bolt verification in realtime as they’re going through their tasks.”

It’s just one example of what people can build with the platform, which is available now.

There are two models of the Intel Joule, the 570x and the 550x, according to an Intel fact sheet.

Here are the specs for the Intel Joule 570x:

  • 64-bit, 1.7 GHz quad-core Intel AtomTM T5700 processor with burst up to 2.4 GHz
  • 4GB LPDDR4 RAM and 16GB eMMC memory
  • Intel HD Graphics with 4K video capture and display
  • 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO and Bluetooth 4.1
  • USB 3.0, MPI* CSI and DSI interfaces, and multiple GPIO, I2C, UART interfaces
  • Linux-based OS tailored for IoT and smart devices
  • Enhanced support for the Intel RealSense cameras and libraries

And here are the specs for the Intel Joule 550x:

  • 64-bit, 1.5 GHz quad-core Intel AtomTM T5500 processor
  • 3GB LPDDR4 RAM and 8GB eMMC memory
  • Intel HD Graphics with 4K video capture and display
  • 802.11ac Wi-Fi with MIMO and Bluetooth 4.1
  • USB 3.0, MPI CSI and DSI interfaces, and multiple GPIO, I2C, UART interfaces
    Linux-based OS tailored for IoT and smart devices
  • Support for the Intel RealSense cameras and libraries

It will be interesting to see what kinds of things are ultimately created with this platform, so we’ll be watching closely.

Justin Pot
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Justin's always had a passion for trying out new software, asking questions, and explaining things – tech journalism is the…
Best color laser printers for 2024: tested and reviewed
A Brother printer on a counter in front of a brick wall.

The best color laser printers can be a great investment, saving you quite a bit of time and money. For shoppers worried about the long-term ink costs, you'll find color laser printers surprisingly affordable. Laser printers use toner, which lasts a very long time, delivering a low cost per page for monochrome documents and fast color prints. The best color laser printers offer quick performance and reliability to help keep your home office or small business productive.

If you need to scan documents for record-keeping and photo capture or want the convenience of a color copier, an all-in-one color laser printer is an essential tool for your small business or personal use. For a small added cost, you get expanded capabilities. That's why every model on this list is an all-in-one from the best printer brands.

Read more
The 5 best Wi-Fi adapters for PC in 2024
The Ugreen AC1300 Wi-Fi adapter in a desktop PC.

Whether you're designing it yourself or getting a pre-built PC, it can be easy to get a computer and realize that it doesn't have a native Wi-Fi adapter. Or, maybe it does, but you're internet speeds are getting faster, game downloads are getting bigger, you've already upgraded your router and need an adapter to match your newfound power requirements. No matter the situation, an external Wi-Fi adapter that you can add to your PC setup or even laptop setup will be worth your time. Here, we investigate the best Wi-Fi adapters for PC use. Most are incredibly affordable and just snap into a free USB port and start working.
The best Wi-Fi adapter for PC in 2024

Buy the

Read more
How to pin a website to the taskbar in Windows
A man sits, using a laptop running the Windows 11 operating system.

Windows includes many interesting tools, but if you’re like many people, more and more of your digital life is happening in your web browser and nowhere else. That being the case, you’ll want to keep your most important websites close at hand. The easiest way to access them in Windows is the Start menu and the taskbar, treating them more or less like programs in and of themselves.

Although easy overall, getting a website from your browser to your taskbar is slightly different depending on which browser you’re using.

Read more