Google is providing a short video that shows the progress of a new smartphone project called Project Ara.
The project is being developed by Google's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) group, according to TechCrunch. The ATAP group is also currently developing Project Tango, a 3D mapping handset that was introduced by Google in February.
Project's name came from the modular phone concept that was being developed by Motorola, but Google kept the ATAP group when the company sold Motorola Mobility to Levono.
The idea is seen as a way to improve personal customization for mobile devices, as well as a way to change the mobile industry, CNET reported.
The short video talks about designing an interface to explain the concept of the modular phone to users, TechCrunch reported. The video also stated that an Ara configurator app is being worked on.
"We're really trying to make this interface as simple as possible, and as spacially intuitive as we can," said Eric Gunther, co-founder of interactive design studio SoSo Ltd. The studio is working with Google's ATAP on the app's design.
Google will use magnetism to keep the phone blocks in each modular device together. The video refers to "electro-permanent magnetism" as the magnetism being switched on when the user wants the device to stay together and turns off when the user wants to take components out.
The video shows quick flashes of parts being worked on as ATAP team members are introduced, CNET reported. Viewers are also given a hint of how many single modules they can fit in one phone.
Google is set to hold its first Ara developer conference on April 15.
The conference is the first of several that are scheduled for this year, TechCrunch reported. The first will focus on the alpha release of the Ara Module Developer's Kit (MDK) which is set to persuade developers to build Ara modules. More events are planned, which means more details about Ara may be revealed.
