The 2015 Intel Developer Forum was recently held in San Francisco. At the meeting, United Artists Media Group CEO Mark Burnett (the producer of “Survivor”) and Intel CEO Brian Krzanich made an announcement — a new reality show called “America’s Greatest Makers” will seek out inventors of wearables and smart connected consumer devices. The winner will receive a prize of $1 million. Entrants can be as young as 15 years old.
The show will premiere on Turner Broadcasting networks in 2016. Technology featured on the show will be powered by Intel Curie technology, a complete SoC (system on a chip) the size of a small button. It’s designed for constant-use applications such as social media, sports and fitness activities, and benefits wearables like rings, bracelets, and fitness trackers.
CONFERENCE AGENDA ANNOUNCED:
The highly-anticipated educational tracks for the 2015 R&D 100 Awards & Technology Conference feature 28 sessions, plus keynote speakers Dean Kamen and Oak Ridge National Laboratory Director Thom Mason. Learn more.
“America’s Greatest Makers” piggybacks on last year’s Intel “Make it Wearable” challenge. The winner of this competition was Nixie, the first wearable drone camera, which can be worn around the wrist. Second place was awarded to an inexpensive robotic hand, and third place went to a sensor-based glove.
An “American Idol”-inspired reality show about wearables could bring increased public awareness to a trend that is poised to skyrocket within the next few years. According to PC Magazine, the wearable sensors market is poised to explode in the next five years. Developers are seeking sensors that are easy to wear, instead of having people rely on their cell phones to perform tasks. Fossil will soon be releasing smart watches and bracelets powered by Intel technology. The American Heart Association reports that wearable sensors are proven to help people make healthier lifestyle choices. A new algorithm allows wearable sensors to alert medical professionals when patients are having breathing problems. Recent market research says that increased emphasis on the development of implantable and wearable sensors could cause the global medical sensors market to grow to $15.5 billion by the end of 2019. The Apple Watch and Fitbit are already talking points in many American households.
This is the future, and it’s about time that it hits TV.
