Soli • Hacker News Board

Re: Soli

#11

Post by shantly » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 3:20 PM UTC

stestagg wrote: post #10

Klathmon wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

they specifically point out on the page that it's not a camera, doesn't capture any visual images, even works through some solid materials, and can sense in all directions around the device. This looks literally perfect for something like a smart display. I have a google home smart display on my desk, and I like to keep it back far enough that it's a bit of a reach to touch the screen and interact with it. If i could…

> I am wondering why they decided to first release it in a phone, where it seems like it has the least benefits... Google wanting something in your phone that allows it to track engagement? I can't think why.. :) > Engaged > Soli anticipates when you want to interact.

Plus a stationary or semi-stationary version only lets them collect data from wherever you place it. Put it in phones and pretty soon you've got whatever sort of data this thing picks up from damn near every room, every street, every trail, every car, every everything anywhere that people exist. Data to train your machine learning algos, for free. God knows what else—data to map every square centimeter of every environment in the modern world, for all we know.

Their priorities are spying-first, typically, so this is unsurprising.

Re: Soli

#12

Post by boltzmannbrain » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 3:21 PM UTC

Slightly off topic: Where can one find these minimalist cartoons/sketches of people for websites? Ideally free, but those options appear super cartoonish and limited.

Re: Soli

#13

Post by Analemma_ » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 3:22 PM UTC

ranie93 wrote: post #7

The "dial" gesture is incredibly subtle. Kudos to them if it works reliably. MKBHD doesn't seem convinced in the efficacy of the sensor* from his Pixel 4 video: https://youtu.be/sKJ4i7p-o-4?t=326 * from Analemma_'s comment below, the Pixel 4 doesn't seem to be running the full blown chip

Ars' report [0] seemed to indicate that the gestures work great with the full-size Soli chip, but not the miniaturized one they had to cram into the phone.

[0]: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2019/10/pixel-4-hands-on-pro...

Re: Soli

#14

Post by matthberg » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 3:24 PM UTC

I wonder how this will impact fingerprinting of users from a privacy and security perspective. It would be useful as a means of identity verification based off of physical properties of the user beyond just their fingerprint or iris. Yet it would also be a massive privacy concern, particularly since it advertises 360° sensing.

Re: Soli

#15

Post by ericmccarthy » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 3:24 PM UTC

boltzmannbrain wrote: post #12

Slightly off topic: Where can one find these minimalist cartoons/sketches of people for websites? Ideally free, but those options appear super cartoonish and limited.

I've found https://undraw.co/ is a good place for this kind of stuff.

Re: Soli

#16

Post by kirmerzlikin » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 3:25 PM UTC

boltzmannbrain wrote: post #12

Slightly off topic: Where can one find these minimalist cartoons/sketches of people for websites? Ideally free, but those options appear super cartoonish and limited.

something like this - https://www.humaaans.com/ ?

Re: Soli

#17

Post by LeonM » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 3:25 PM UTC

itsfirat wrote: post #3

Just touch the screen. It's already on your hands!

Unless it is implemented in anything different than a handheld device

Unless you have disabilities

Unless you are not allowed to touch the device (like while driving a car)

etc, etc.

Re: Soli

#18

Post by est31 » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 3:25 PM UTC

This is a beautiful piece of tech for any ad company looking to collect reaction information to ads (like google):

* It works at low power. Turning on the front camera and processing the visual data generated needs large amounts of power.

* It can't be blocked as easily as a front facing camera.

* People are less aware that they are being surveilled, which makes them less motivated to block it.

* Yes, it's not capturing any facial expressions, but the information generated probably still gives valuable cues to advertisers.

Also, get ready for unskippable ads pausing when you aren't looking into the direction of the smartphone.

Re: Soli

#19

Post by aloknnikhil » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 3:25 PM UTC

I honestly don't get why you'd need a motion sensor on a handheld device. Let alone the limited application of such an input, you'd literally need to keep the device stationary for the motion sensing to be effective. It's a usability nightmare.

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnRbXWojW7c

This ad not only fails to sell the feature but also makes using the touchscreen look easier.

Re: Soli

#20

Post by philipkiely » Wed, Oct 16, 2019, 3:26 PM UTC

boltzmannbrain wrote: post #12

Slightly off topic: Where can one find these minimalist cartoons/sketches of people for websites? Ideally free, but those options appear super cartoonish and limited.

Those are likely custom, two sources that I like are Undraw [0] and ManyPixels [1] both of which offer free options. You can set your own color and select from hundreds of SVG sketches. That said both are quite popular so common sketches from each appear quite often on various websites.

[0] https://undraw.co/illustrations

[1] https://www.manypixels.co/gallery/