Google I/O is not just about Android, although the new version of the mobile OS offered very little excitement. At I/O, Google also has sessions dedicated to what it is doing in the future. The Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) session at the I/O showcased some of the new technologies that Google has been working on from Project Jacquard to Project Ara to Project Soli.
Here is a quick look at the exciting projects which are part of Google’s ATAP.
Project Ara
Project Ara is the ambitious Google project, which could allow users to customise and create their own smartphone hardware.W hile it has been talked about for some time, the first official demo
was given at this year’s Google I/O.
Google Engineer Rafa Camargo gave a demonstration of Project Ara on stage and basically set up a whole phone from scratch which was also running ‘the latest build of Android’. The most interesting bit: He added the camera module after the smartphone had been set up. He then took a picture from the camera to show that it was working as well.
Sadly that was all that we got to see about Project Ara from Google this year. We still have no word on how soon Project Ara will step out of the lab.
Project Soli is another solution that Google is offering the world of wearable technology. This sensor detects the sensitivity of finger movement without relying on traditional touch-screen devices. In short, Google wants to get rid of extra devices and capture the dexterity of your hands straight up to help you interact with computer devices, wearables, etc
The sensor uses radio frequency to capture the movement of your hand. Google has built what it calls a “full-gesture recognition pipeline” in this sensor to understand each and every gesture of the human hand. The signals are then used to interpret the intention of the human hand. Radar is more accurate than cameras and senses the tiniest of motions as well, say Google engineers in the video below.
In short, Soli is a new way that Google hopes to-redefine the wearable market.
Project Jacquard
Smart clothes could soon be here, thanks to Google and Levi Strauss. Project Jacquard’s idea will create touch and gesture-capable textiles, which could be weaved into your daily wear.
Anything involving fabric, from suits or dresses to furniture or carpet, could potentially have computer touch-pad style control capabilities woven. Conductive yarn is connected to tiny circuits, no bigger than jacket buttons, with miniaturised electronics that can use algorithms to recognise touches or swipes
Google says that it will look like normal yarn, and designers can choose to make the touch-conducive part either visible or totally invisible. Google wants to make the whole sensor so small that users might not even feel it in the garment.
The data collected from this kind of clothing could then be sent to smartphones or other smart devices, and it could allow for actions like making phone calls or sending messages by just brushing against the garment in a particular way.
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