Intel Labs unveils new division to explore future computing

I just love the smell of innovation at work.

At Intel Labs' annual Research at Intel event this week, company CTO Justin Rattner announced a new research division called Interaction and Experience Research, or IXR. Its goal: re-imagine how we'll experience computing in the future, defining new user experiences and new user platforms.

Computing is becoming more personal, about individual information. The question becomes how people will interact with a computing device - and that doesn't necessarily mean a variation of the notebook, tablet or smartphone we're familiar with today. How will things like touch, gestures and voice commands change the computing experience?

The division will be led by Intel Fellow Genevieve Bell, who explains further:

Intel now touches more things in people’s lives than just the PC. Intel chips and the Internet are now in televisions, set-tops, handhelds, automobiles, signage and more. IXR will build on 15 years of research into the ways in which people use, re-use and resist new information and communication technologies. Social science, design and human-computer interaction researchers will continue that mission – asking questions about what people will value, what will fit into their lives and what they love about the things they already have. These insights will be married with a strong focus on technological research into the next generation of user interfaces, user interactions and changes in media content and consumption patterns.