Google to launch Project Soli alpha program (gesture-sensing mini-radars)

One of the most exciting new projects coming from Google’s ATAP team is Project Soli, which uses radar technology to allow a person to use minute gestures in mid air to virtually control such things as volume knobs on a watch face.

Android Police reports that Google has begun notifying interested groups of an upcoming “Soli Alpha DevKit.” Developers that wish to take part are told to fill out an application for a chance to participate.

In the email notification, Google asks for developers working in any category, including health, art, virtual reality, and more.

Google also notes that persons selected to participate to receive a DevKit will get a development board and SDK, along with the chance to join a Soli Alpha developer workshop in the future. Potential developers are asked to be patient and discuss their work using the private user group. They are also asked to accept software updates and “make something really cool.”

Google notes that there are only a few dozen kits, so the alpha stage of Project Soli is very small. However, the team is working on getting a beta program underway by the end of this year.

The radar technology in Project Soli tracks the smallest movement of a person’s hand, such as finger wiggles or spinning motion. The data can be sent to software that allows the user to interact with computing devices without having to touch a screen. So, “something really cool” is bound to come out of this project. Whether it can be applied to consumer life is the question.

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