14 DAY TRIAL // Android 12 will be a massive update for phones out there, and as it turns out, it also includes functionality that others are very likely to copy at a later time.
One such example has been added to the Android 12 feature arsenal with the release of the latest beta. As per XDA, it’s called Camera Switches and it allows users to control their phones using nothing that facial gestures.
So if you considered it awkward to wink at your phone, well, be ready for the whole thing to become a lot more common once Android 12 launches this year.
How the whole thing works
So basically, what the whole thing does is allow you to trigger a series of Android features using face gestures. In other words, it’s all like you’re using voice commands, only that this time it all relies on facial gestures.
There are several gestures currently supported, though Google could add more at a later time, including opening the mouth, smiling, raising eyebrows, and looking right, left, and up.
“Camera Switches use the front camera to see if you’re looking at the screen and to recognize facial gestures. Images aren’t stored or sent to Google. When enabled, this feature uses additional battery. Keep the device plugged in and charging if possible,” Google says.
While this feature is likely to be a welcome replacement to voice commands since you can stay silent while triggering various actions on your phone, the simple fact it’s so power-intensive you need to keep the device connected to a charger clearly limits its purpose.
Google would presumably further refine it by the time Android 12 is ready for prime-time, but for now, it may not be a good idea to rely on facial gestures without being connected to power.