The Morning After: Intel attempts smartglasses


Hey, good morning! You look fabulous.

Good morning! Interested in a three-wheeled EV? How about a Han Solo origins movie? Ah, okay, how about Intel trying to make smart glasses a thing? We also take a closer look at how a US Paralympian designed Team USA's snowboard prosthetics for this year's Winter Olympics, while we get ready for the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch planned for this afternoon.

A low-powered laser beams images into your eye.
 Intel's smart glasses are subtle enough that you might want to wear 'em

Intel has launched an impressively light, regular-looking set of smart glasses called Vaunt, confirming last week's rumors. Seen by The Verge, they have plastic frames and weigh just under 50 grams, a bit more than regular eyeglasses but much less than Google Glass, for example. The electronics are crammed into the stems and control a very low-powered, class-one laser that shines a red, monochrome, low-fi image into your eye. Perhaps crucially, the glasses contain no camera, eliminating the big brother vibe from Glass and other smart glasses. Vaunt is mainly aimed at giving you relatively simple heads-up notifications. Intel says the glasses are more stealthy than a smartwatch, allowing you to check notifications while doing other activities. But would you want a pair?

He's as overconfident as ever.
 Solo: A 'Star Wars Story' trailer reveals Han's roots

The troubled spin-off production finally manages a trailer.

From pro snowmobiler to Paralympic athlete.
 A US Paralympian designed Team USA's snowboard prosthetics

Mike Schultz was a professional snowmobile racer, but in 2008, his life's course took a turn after a competition accident shattered his left knee and left him clinging to life. When his injuries began causing his kidneys to shut down, doctors decided to amputate the leg just above the knee.

"I spent a total of 13 days in the hospital and was able to get back home on Christmas Eve to a whole new world of challenges," he explained. "Later that spring, after learning how to walk on my everyday prosthetic leg, I realized pretty quickly that I needed a plan B to get back into sports and the fun activities that I wanted to do." That plan B turned out to be designing his own prosthetic leg -- one purpose-built to handle the rigors of extreme sports -- and starting a fabrication company, Biodapt, to produce it. Thus, the Moto Knee was created.

Jay Y. Lee was meant to spend five years in jail, however...Disgraced Samsung boss walks free from prison

The heir to South Korea's largest company has avoided a lengthy spell in prison after a court suspended his sentence. Samsung vice chairman Jay Y. Lee was meant to spend five years behind bars after being found guilty of bribing public officials. Now, after spending close to a year in detention, he has been released and will spend the next four years on probation.

Lee was arrested as part of the corruption scandal that brought down South Korean President Park Geun-Hye, herself awaiting trial.

The nation is trying to battle a big uptick in road deaths.
 France bans smartphone use in cars even when you pull over

Road deaths have been on the rise lately in France and with nothing much else to pin it on, authorities are going after scofflaw drivers who text or call. It's now illegal to hold your phone on public roads even when you're pulled over to the side, whether you're blocking traffic or not. The high-court ruling means that taking what some consider to be a safe step -- pulling over to talk on the phone -- could still result in points and a fine of 135 euros.

The company just has to make more than one.
 Sondors' three-wheeled EV is affordable and stylish

Starting a new car company is tough. In fact, it's nearly impossible. Then Tesla pulled it off. As we transition from the internal combustion engine to electrification, startups and even a few established players are taking a chance on EVs. Building a three-wheeled autocycle isn't revolutionary, exactly. But making an EV starting at $10,000, with all the usual amenities, makes it a car worth watching. Plus, it looks spectacular. Three wheels, c'mon!

But wait, there's more...

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