If you thought the latest generation of Fitbits and smartwatches were small, wait until you see what Intel is working on. The "Curie" computing platform, named after pioneering physicist Marie Curie, is so small that it could be built into one of the buttons on your shirt.
"Last year we introduced Edison — basically a computer the size of a postage stamp," said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich at the Consumer Electronics Show keynote speech Tuesday evening. "But as engineers we knew we could do better. And I have to tell you, we've done it."
With that he plucked a button from his jacket, inside of which was concealed a Curie computer. It tracks motion, connects wirelessly, and runs off a tiny rechargeable battery. You won't be running Microsoft Office on it, but it will work as a platform for simpler purposes, like a fitness tracker so small it can be built into your shirt or waistband.
Intel won't be offering Curie as a standalone device, but device creators from the likes of Oakley and Nike may be building their own products on top of the platform. Watch for Curie-based devices over the next year — if you can spot them.
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