Previously, we talked about Project Soli, an interesting project born in 2015 from the hands of Google’s Technology and Advanced Projects unit, to enable tracking of hand movements and fingers with great speed and accuracy, to enable unlimited interaction with devices without physically touching them.
While the project did not seem to have progressed far enough in recent years, at the end of last month the FCC approved an exemption for solid-state sensors to operate at higher frequencies than previously, albeit below what Google had originally requested in March last year to meet the standards of the European Telecommunications Standards Institute.
It has also been recognized that solid-state sensors can also be used inside aircraft as they offer “minimal potential for harmful interference to other frequency users”. However, the devices they integrate must comply with Federal Aviation Administration standards.
The FCC considers Project Soli’s technology to be of public interest by providing features that allow devices to interact without physical contact.
The reason not to allow the frequencies originally requested in March last year is the discrepancies that Facebook is showing because they could cause problems with other technologies. After both companies had discussed the matter, both companies agreed in September that the sensors could operate at higher levels, but below the level originally required.