Prepared By:-Rushit Patel

Google ARA Project

Project Ara is the codename for an unnamed modular smartphone that is essentially a computer board with compatible modules.

 The platform will include a endoskeletal frame with modules of the owner's choice, such as a display, camera or an extra battery.

The phone itself can be swapped from malfunctioning modules or upgrades as innovations emerge, providing longer handset cycle lifetime, and potentially reducing electronic waste.

What is Google ARA?

The project was originally headed by the Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) team within Motorola Mobility while it was a Google subsidiary.

Although Google has since divested Motorola to Lenovo, it retained the ATAP group, now a division under Android.

Thus, the project separated from ATAP and is now an independent division.

A prototype of ARA project smartphone

On 29th October 2013 , Motorola mobility which was under Google introduced the smartphone market a term “MODULARITY”.

Google says the device is designed to be utilized by "7 billion people"; including 1 billion current smartphone users, 5 billion feature phone users, and 1 billion future users not currently connected.

Google intends to sell a starter kit where the bill of materials is US$50 and includes a frame, display, battery, low-end CPU and WiFi.

This would be similar to how the Google Play Store is structured.

Anyone will be able to build a module without requiring a license or paying a fee.

Project Goals

Ara Smartphones are built using modules inserted into metal endoskeletal frames known as "endos".

The frame will be the only component in an Ara Smartphone made by Google.

Two frame sizes will be available at first: "mini", a frame about the size of a Nokia 3310 and "medium", about the size of a LG Nexus 5.

 In the future, a "large" frame about the size of a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be available.

 Frames will have slots on the back as well as on front.

Structure

The prototype of the frame of ARA smartphone.

This would the most customisable smartphone of the world. Which will be possible due to modules.

Modules can provide common smartphone features, such as cameras and speakers, but can also provide more specialized features, such as medical devices, receipt printers, laser pointers, pico projectors, night vision sensors, or game controller buttons.

 The rear slots come in standard sizes of 1×1, 1×2 and 2×2.

Features

 Modules can be hot-swapped without turning the phone off.

The frame also includes a small backup battery so the main battery can be hot-swapped.

Modules were originally to be secured with electro permanent magnets, but according to the team a new and better solution has been developed.

Modules will be available both at an official Google store and at third-party stores.

Ara Smartphones will only accept official modules by default, but users can change a software setting to enable unofficial modules.

This is similar to how Android handles apps installations.

Camera module of ARA project

Gaming module of ARA project

 Dutch designer Dave Hakkens announced the Phonebloks modular phone concept independently in September 2013.

 Motorola publicly announced Project Ara on October 29, 2013 and said they will be working collaboratively with Phonebloks.

 Motorola went on a 5-month road trip throughout the United States in 2013 called "MAKEwithMOTO" to gauge consumer interest in customized phones.

A near-working prototype of an Ara smartphone was presented at Google I/O 2014; however, the device froze on the boot screen and failed to boot completely.

Development

In January 2015, Google unveiled the "Spiral 2" prototype, and that it planned to test market a later revision of the system in the United States' territory of Puerto Rico later in the year.

 In August 2015, Google announced that the Ara pilot in Puerto Rico had been delayed indefinitely, and that the company would instead hold pilots in "a few locations" in the U.S. some time in 2016.

At Google I/O 2016, the company unveiled a new development model, the "Developer Edition".

The new iteration features notable changes to the original concept; the device now consists of a base phone with core components that cannot be upgraded, including the antenna, battery, display, sensors, and system-on-chip, and extensible with modules for adding features such as a secondary display or replacement cameras and speakers.

Recently 2 smartphone are launched leading the way of Modularity.

Lenovo MOTO Z/MOTO Z FORCE.LG G5.This 2 Smartphones have modules like JBL

speaker, projector, cam plus etc.The more easy and adoptable modularity is

found in MOTO Z/MOTO Z FORCE compared to LG G5.

Present Example of Modularity

LG G5 and Friends

Cam plus

Hi-Fi audio plus

360 Cam plus

Moto Mods

JBL Speaker Moto projector Power plus Moto back cover

As coin has two faces, every thing in this world has advantages and disadvantages........

Whenever in our world new technologies has been introduced, those technologies are much more expensive.

For example, the Lg friends and Moto Mods, price as much as average budget smartphone in market.

Here is the same, Google is selling the frame much cheaper ,but what about the modules. Those modules would not be as cheaper an the frame is.

Due to this modularity the smartphone will get much bulky than the present Smartphones.

Drawbacks

Project Ara was reported to have connectors using strong magnets to keep components together in place.

An issue may arise when the modular phone comes in contact with other devices that have the same elements. Such an event may cause instant damage to Ara and other nearby affected devices. 

There will be the issue of devices' specs meant to only work for other certain types of hardware parts. Compatibility may become a complex problem. Combination of hardware components could be like solving a difficult puzzle for the less knowledgeable user.

Performance is still a big question for Project Ara. Like other prominent brands that have masterfully optimized their products to run almost flawlessly fast and smooth, Ara's initial performance might compare to the "stone age."

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