June 9, 2015
With the recent release of Google ATAP’s Project Soli – a tiny sensor that uses radar to detect hand gestures and designed to control wearables, Internet of Things, and other devices – there has been a lot of interesting news lately. The BluFlux team has rounded up some of the best.
The potential applications of Project Soli – as well as other technologies that utilize radar, UWB and millimeter wave RF – mean we’re in for an exciting decade ahead.
We’d love to hear about what you are working on.
Google wants to use radar to revolutionize wearables (Video) – CNBC
“One of Google’s latest experiments may change the way consumers interact with wearable devices. Using radar technology, the tech giant’s advanced technology and projects team built a sensor for tracking gestures under a program called Project Soli. Google announced the project Friday at its I/O conference.”
Google’s Soli concepts have us thirsty for virtual controls – SlashGear
“Google’s ATAP team arguably stole the show at I/O 2015 last week, and of all the gadgets it’s Project Soli that has us most intrigued. The tiny radar sensor could bring ridiculously-accurate virtual controls to wearables and more, opening mobile interfaces up to a wealth of actions and gestures that belie compact touchscreens and work around even the most minimalistic of designs.”
Low-cost RF antenna printed with graphene ink – could soon see use in wearable electronics and IoT devices – Electronic Products
“Graphene may soon take the all-important step from novelty material to commercially viable product thanks to researchers from the University of Manchester and BGT Materials Limited. That’s because the group has figured out a way to print a radio frequency antenna using compressed graphene ink, and proven it is effective for use in radio-frequency identification tags and wireless sensors.”
Zebra’s Painter Protection System Helps Prevent Falls at Boeing – RFID Journal
“The aerospace company is using Zebra’s ultra-wideband RFID technology to track the locations of workers painting airplanes, and to verify that they are properly harnessed and working safely.”
RF tuning and device design beyond LTE-Advanced – RCR Wireless
“The ability to support tuning of radio frequency elements represents the potential for “revolutionary new approaches to mobile system design and operation,” according to new work by the International Wireless Industry Consortium.”
RF Front End Market to Reach $19b by 2020 (Press Release) – RF Globalnet
[A} comprehensive study provides a detailed view of the amplifiers, filters, switches, tuning elements, antennas and integrated modules that form the radio front end. The report covers mobile handsets, tablets, PCs and machine-to-machine modems.
Internet of Things Spending to Reach 1.7 Trillion by 2020 – ClickZ
“While wearables, like the Apple Watch, remain the most visible faction of the IoT, the real opportunity remains in the enterprise and public sector markets, since the majority of consumers can’t yet afford pricey connected devices, according to Carrie MacGillivray, vice president of IoT and mobile for IDC.”
Wearables Market Tops 11 Million in First Quarter – eWeek
“The wearable device market recorded its eighth consecutive quarter of steady growth in the first quarter of the year, with vendors shipping a total of 11.4 million wearables in the period, a 200 percent increase from the 3.8 million wearables shipped in the same period last year.”
Connectivity crunch looms as ‘Internet of Things’ rises, Ericsson Canada president says – Financial Post
“The number of mobile subscriptions is projected to exceed the world’s population in 2015, but the looming capacity crunch won’t be just a result of more people using smartphones, Ericsson Canada president Mark Henderson warned Monday. The source of strain will likely be data-transferring machines.”
More Bosses Expected to Track Their Staff Through Wearables in Next 5 Years – Forbes
“According to a report from Tractica, a Boulder, Col.-based market research firm that specializes in the health tracking and wearable devices, the market for corporate and industry customers of wearables will grow with remarkable speed over the next five years.”