Harman Teams With Google on Audio, Gesture Control Technologies

Harman and Google announced an audio partnership at Google I/O 2016 for Google’s new modular mobile device called Ara, Harman said Friday. The module gives customers “complete choice” over features they want, and Harman’s 80-year-old audio heritage and “deep expertise” in the Android OS will be “critical elements” in the development process, Harman said. Ara will give consumers “premium audio and the functionalities they want on the go,” Harman Lifestyle Audio President Michael Mauser said. In addition, Harman and Google's Advanced Technology and Projects Group (ATAP) said they’re working together on Project Soli, which uses radar to enable new types of touchless interactions. One project involves using the human hand as a natural, intuitive interface for devices, they said. The Soli sensor can track “sub-millimeter motions at high speed and accuracy to enable precise and effortless hand gestures,” the companies said.