Google Project Ara Design Will Use Electro-Permanent Magnets To Lock In Modules

MojoKid writes: "Google's Project Ara, an effort to develop a modular smartphone platform, sounded at first as much like vaporware, but Google is actually making it happen. In an upbeat video, Dave Hakkens (the guy who created the Phonebloks design that appears to be the conceptual basis for Project Ara) visited the Google campus to see what progress is being made on the project. The teams working on Project Ara have figured out a key solution to one of the first problems they encountered, which was how to keep all the modules stuck together. They decided to use electro-permanent magnets. In terms of design, they've decided not to cover up the modules, instead making their very modularity part of the aesthetic appeal. 3D Systems is involved on campus, as they're delivering the 3D printing technology to make covers for the modules."

Still sounds like vaporware to me

[Kielistic]

Because nothing screams "this isn't vaporware" like "we discovered magnets stick together". As if keeping things in place was the major road block for this endeavor.

Re:So If I Drop My Phone

[ArcadeMan]

If it's not intended for the masses, then it's going to fail on all important points:

- it will be bigger/thicker than current all-in-one phones because each module will be its own box with its own case and you need space for the magnets and inter-modular connections
- it means it will cost even more than current all-in-one phones
- it means it won't get manufactured in enough quantities to make a difference in the waste produced by all-in-one phones