Toshiba official said smartwatches could take advantage of Ara in the future

Apr 17, 2014 14:29 GMT  ·  By

Google’s Project Ara smartphone has drawn a lot of attention ever since it was unveiled in late 2013. Under the Ara umbrella, the search giant aims to build a modular smartphone in the hopes of bringing innovation to the increasingly sluggish industry.

But are smartphones the only devices targeted by Project Ara? This appears not to be the case. At least according to Toshiba’s Senior VP of Technology Executive, Shardul Kazi, says Engadget. Toshiba is one of Google’s official partners for Project Ara, so the information might be taken as accurate.

Kazi talked about smartwatches specifically, but earlier this week it was hinted that Google is toying around with the idea of extending the project onto the next best thing: tablets.

Holding a presentation at the Ara Developer Conference, Kazi showed a slide depicting a module being removed from a smartphone and going into a wearable. Such a wrist strapped device could be constructed following the same principles to be used for the modular smartphone.

The wearable might be built around an endoskeleton that allows blocks to be attached to both smartwatch/fitness band and smartphone.

Kazi’s example uses an activity tracker with nine-axis sensor ad Bluetooth LE to drive the point home, but there are no limitations involved.

The Toshiba official immediately points out this is purely a theoretical idea at this point. But the mention of wearables shows that if modular smartphones prove to be a hit for customers, Ara could very easily be extended into other products like tablets and smartwatches.

Sadly for Google and its partners, modular smartwatches won’t be a complete novelty when they finally hit the market. Early last month we brought you news of a little-known start-up company that has a big project to show the world.

BLOCKS is definitely a concept that brings strong Project Ara vibes to the table and is also in its prototype stages. Even so, maybe the start-up could win the race with Google and launch their offering on the market first.

The watch will basically allow users to choose everything from color, screen size and exactly what apps they need or want to have onboard.

On top of that, owners will be allowed to go even further, in being able to opt between adding multiple displays with LED or E-ink technology. Basically, imagination will be the limit with the BLOCKS smartwatch.

BLOCKS is currently in a gathering funds campaign that’s scheduled to end later this year. In the eventuality the project proves to be successful, Blocks will make it on the market in mid-2015, costing just $150 / €108.

To compare, the Google Ara Beta will be launched in January 2015, while the alpha is expected to appear next month.