Google announced Project Soli which is a radar-based gesture technology aimed at connected devices such as smartwatch. In addition, the company’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) has also introduced Project Jacquard that aims at bringing interactive clothing.
Google showed off the Project Jacquard at the I/O developer conference which involve weaving electronics into fabrics that acts as a touch screen. It aims to bring conductive yarns to every garment and then to integrate touch sensors, haptic feedback, and others inside them. The touch-sensitive yarn contains thin, metallic alloys combined with standard yarn from materials like cotton or silk. The threads can connect to chips that reacts to gestures, monitor heart rate or body temperature and so on.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qObSFfdfe7I
Project Jacquard’s yarn works with many different fibers like wool, silk, polyester, cotton and comes in a full range of colors. The Jacquard loom is able to weave together both regular and super-conductive fabric into a single textile, which is the area users will interact with on the clothing item. As per the released video from Google, it will allow the wearer to answer a phone call by swiping one of the sleeves. Google also announced it is partnering with Levi’s to explore creating interactive clothing at scale. Levi’s is looking to create its own applications, but is also seeking contributions from the developer community.