It appears that technology is getting better day-by-day. In a recent Google video, people have been treated to some amazing eye-openers about how the future may look like. Google has launched its product known as Project Soli. The new Google product makes use of the radar technology to sense movements. The technology is very much advanced such that an individual can control it using subtle finger movements.
Project Soli
The new Google product was created with the aim of having hands-free controls. It is in a position to work with almost any device capable of integrating the Soli chip. Although this project was unveiled by Google early last year, it has considerably improved since then. Last year, the tech giant revealed that it had successfully miniaturized the Soli chip to allow it to fit into smaller devices such as smartwatches. The Google’s project makes use of the radar technology, which gives people an opportunity to control objects using hand gestures. For instance, if you have Soli chip embedded speakers, you can change songs from a different room by just waving your hand. This Google project has surprised many people, and it is just fascinating to witness controls via gestures without any sensors or cameras.
Earlier version of Project Soli
If you are not a lover of technology, you probably didn’t hear about Google’s Project Soli when it was initially launched a year ago. However, although the news about the Google product was received with a lot of excitement by users from all walks of life, people didn’t hear about the project until 2017. Project Soli depends on very small radar units to sense gesture inputs where other input forms such as touchscreen may be impossible or impractical. Google demonstrated the new technology using a Smartwatch, but it is possible to build gesture interactions with solid objects such as desks.
Professional assistance from St. Andrews Scotland University researchers has enabled Project Soli to have additional tricks. For instance, Soli is now in a position to identify various objects using the radar technology. This enables it to determine the interior structure as well as the exterior shape of the object it is sensing. Its proper identification makes it possible for the user to find out what the object really is.
Note that, although Soli is extremely amazing, it experiences some difficulties when it comes to determining both the similarities and differences between various objects especially those created using similar materials as well as similar densities. Moreover, the system needs to be trained first about various objects before it can identify them by itself.
Currently, researchers are looking for ways to make Soli much better. They want to eliminate any sort of confusion around the identification of similar objects. To completely fix some of these problems, researchers are building reference database software that is comprehensive enough to provide known objects’ matching IDs. This could be a great resource and could tremendously grow as a result of high volume use.
More about Soli and Potential Soli Applications
This amazing sensing technology is in a position to perceive touchless gesture interactions using its miniature radar. According to Google, the new tech envisions a future whereby the human hand will act as a universal device for input to allow people interact with technology. Additionally, people will be in a position to control their devices using universal and simple gesture sets. Soli sensors are able to tack high-speed sub-millimeter motions with unbelievable accuracy.
The Virtual Tool is an important concept to the interactions of Soli. They are gestures that are in a position to imitate well-known interactions, especially with physical tools. This makes it easier for Soli to learn, remember and communicate different interactions.
Its sensor technology emits a broad beam of electromagnetic waves. This energy is then scattered by the objects within this beam, and a portion is reflected back to the radar antenna. Soli is in a position to recognize and track dynamic gestures especially those expressed by hand and fingers fine motions. To ensure that all this is accomplished using only one chip sensor, Google came up with novel radar to act as a sensing paradigm incorporating algorithms, software, and hardware. Unlike most old radar sensors, Project Soli does not need high spatial resolution and large bandwidth.
Google’s Soli chip is an absolutely amazing invention. It allows for embedding in phones, cars, computers, IoT devices, and wearables. Since Soli lacks moving parts, it is able to fit onto a chip. Additionally, Soli consumes less energy. The best thing about Soli is that light conditions cannot affect it. Most importantly, it is able to work through a wide range of materials.
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Conclusion
Imagine having an invisible button strategically located between index fingers and your thumb where you can conveniently press it by simply tapping fingers together. This is the technology Soli is offering. Although most Soli controls are completely virtual, there are interactions feel responsive and physical. Usually, feedbacks are generated by fingers’ haptic sensations when touching each other.
