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Project Soli Radar Gesture Chip Now FCC Approved

Do you ever get the feeling that the future will never get here? That's the feeling I have with Google's Project Soli, the gesture chip technology. (See my 2015 story Google Project Soli - Control Devices With A Gesture.)


However, Ars Technica reports that the FCC has finally approved it. Yay!

The FCC's decision actually lets Google use Soli at higher than the currently allowed power levels, which was apparently needed to make the chip work. Google originally wanted approval for a power level in line with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute standards but was talked down, oddly enough, by Facebook, which was concerned about interference issues. Facebook is interested in 60GHz broadband through its "Terragraph" project.

The FCC said the decision "will serve the public interest by providing for innovative device control features using touchless hand gesture technology."

Everyone I know wishes that gesture control of devices wasn't a bunch of handwavium, but Philip K. Dick knew it would come someday in 1955. This from Solar Lottery:

"You're wrong, honey," Al said seriously. "The l-channel is for news and factual information. The s-channel is for pleasure. I enjoy watching this way, but - He waved his hand and the circuit switched abruptly.
(Read more about Philip K. Dick's hand wave control)

Via Ars Technica.

Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 2/25/2019)

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