Google has unveiled a number of new projects in computing, called Project Vault, Project Soli, Project Abacus and Project Jacquard.
Each of these new projects could change the face of computing and technology as we know it, offering new ways to communicate and interact with our digital lives. The announcements came Friday at the Google I/O 2015 developer conference.
Project Vault
The first new project unveiled by Google is called Project Vault. Put simply, it is a fully functioning computer in a tiny microSD-sized card - and yes, that's the same card you might have in your smartphone to store extra music and photos.
Now, it's important to mention that while Project Vault is technically a computer, it's not meant for computing in the same way that you and I know it. Rather, Vault will be used as a way to securely communicate and to authenticate a user without having to use things like passwords and is aimed for use by large companies.
The tiny device includes an ARM-processor, near-field communication capability and an antenna. It also includes 4 GB of storage and what's called a Real Time Operating System. Google showed one example of Vault's use in which two users were able to chat. Because chats are encrypted and not sent through the phone, carriers aren't able to snoop.
Project Soli
Next up on Google's project list is Project Soli, which is a tiny wearable that will allow users to control anything they want to. Well, almost. Soli itself is a tiny radar system that can be implanted into something like a smartwatch, and is able to sense hand gestures. What this means is that in the very near future, instead of having to tap on a tiny screen or use our voices to input commands into a wearable device, we will be able to simply motion with our hands.
The move could be a big one for the wearable world in general, which has largely relied on things like voice control as the way of the future for wearable input.
Project Abacus
Project Abacus is all about security. The new technology hopes to do away with single-authentication methods like fingerprint scanners and passwords, replacing them with a system that tracks a number of different user interactions to make sure that the user is who they say they are. For example, the system will track how a user speaks into their phone or the way in which they touch the display. These could make a system far safer and make it easier for users to authenticate their identity.
Project Jacquard
The last project on the list is Project Jacquard, which is Google ATAP's effort to make smart and interactive clothing a reality. In fact, the cloth that Google has developed could one day control the user's smartphone or even connected devices within the home. At Google I/O, the company was able to show off a few examples of the cloth in use, allowing users to manipulate a 3D image on a screen based on how they touch the cloth.
It's not yet clear exactly how Google plans to implement the new cloth, and even the website for Project Jacquard is a little vague. The company has, however announced Levi as a partner for the project.
