The first preview of Android 11 comes loaded with surprises. In addition to its novelties, its source code reveals the next developments that seem to reach the mobile operating system at the end of the year.
Gradually, we discover hidden features of Android 11. We are talking about features such as scrolling screen capture, reverse wireless charging. In addition to the newly discovered double-tap gesture that can be performed on the back of the device.
Google is implementing a gesture on Android 11 that allows us to double-tap on the back to perform actions. This feature is being developed under the Columbus codename.
Google is testing new double-tap gestures on the rear of Pixel phones
This gesture seems to invoke the Google Assistant by default but by messing with the files of the Android 11 system, they have discovered that the double-tap gesture can also be performed to open the camera, control multimedia playback, pause timers, silence calls or postpone alarms. It seems that the user will have many actions available to customize this gesture.
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There will be a configuration that will train us to perform the double tap on the back in order to avoid incorrect activations. We will have to perform the double-tap at a certain speed and strength. The different sensors of the mobile are able to detect if we are hitting the screen or the back.
We know this new gesture feature is available for Pixel phones rather than all devices running Android 11. This is since Google has kindly stuck to their tradition of prefacing each class with “com.google” rather than “com.android,”. It’s a naming scheme they’ve followed for other gesture systems including Active Edge and Motion Sense.
What’s interesting about these “Columbus” gestures, in comparison with Active Edge and Motion Sense, is that they seemingly don’t require any special hardware—just your phone’s gyroscope and accelerometer.
What do you think about this new upcoming feature? Let us know in the comment box below.
