Last March, before the release of the latest smartphones in the Pixel
range, Google was working on a feature known by the code name Columbus.
The latter was ultimately not implemented. However, it could see the
light of day in Android 12.
The Columbus system proposes to
activate a double tap (or double tap) mechanism, which relies on the
smartphone's gyroscope and accelerometer. The device made its appearance
in the Developer Preview 1 version of Android 11. It was then enriched
in the RFP 2.
Columbus: accessibility by double tap
When developing Columbus,
Google had designed a series of configurable actions via a double tap on
the back of the smartphone. By default, Google would have expected this
gesture to activate the voice assistant.
On the other hand, the
user was able to associate this double tap to open the camera, control
media playback, open the notifications bar, silence an incoming call or
take a screenshot.
However, the mechanism had been deemed too
sensitive to be deployed in final production. The configured action was
often performed by accident. On its latest Android smartphones, like the
Pixel 5, Google has introduced an option to swipe up and down on the
fingerprint sensor to open the notifications panel.
The double tap is back
While Google has finally decided not to
integrate Columbus into the Pixels on Android 11, Apple has for its part
introduced a similar device directly in the accessibility options of
iOS 14. It is then possible to configure a related action no only to a
double tap, but also to three successive taps.
According to
9to5Google, Columbus is planned for the next version of Android in
version 12. In addition to the actions previously mentioned, the
mechanism would also enable multitasking.
To avoid nuisance
tripping, in this next version, Columbus would recognize only the firm
presses on the back of the smartphone. Of course, it will also be
possible to deactivate the mechanism.
The first Developer Preview
version of Android 11 was released in February 2020. It is therefore
possible that a first version for Android 12 will emerge next month.
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