Here Are The Three Coolest New Things From Google's Experimental Lab

Touchscreens in midair, touchscreens on clothes, and a build-a-phone.

Today, Google held its ATAP I/O Keynote.

Advanced Technologies & Projects, a division within Google, is a lab that traditionally works on really cool, futuristic projects. Today's presentation was a look at what the company is developing.

It didn't disappoint.

First up: Sensors.

Namely, tiny sensors that fit inside a smartwatch.

The product of Google's Project Soli, they detect movement from a hand that's above the watch, and can interpret incredibly detailed gestures.

Basically, Google is creating an alternative to the touchscreen.

And the replacement is... nothing.

This is how it works, according to a cryptic animation:

The next big announcement was that Google is making interactive fabrics.

It's another alternative to the touchscreen — but in this case, it's a jacket.

Basically, ATAP has developed special conductive materials that can be woven into threads, creating interactive textiles. The fabrics can be used to make clothing in any color, style, and size. Google's first partnership using the textile will be with Levi's, but it plans to work with other fashion brands as well.

ATAP Program Lead Ivan Poupyrev was wearing one of the jackets onstage and it looked pretty snazzy:

Finally, Google gave a demonstration of Project Ara.

Ara is an Android-powered phone, but one that's customizable and easily assembled

Think smartphone, made out of Legos.

Cool.

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