Google will allow control of your Chromebook through facial recognition.
Now you have even more reasons to look at Gemini with suspicion.
Google has today unveiled a series of new features in ChromeOS, focused on the classroom and accessibility. Among the highlighted features is the ability to control the computer using head movements and facial expressions, a tool specifically designed for individuals with motor disabilities. This feature was initially announced in early December but is now being rolled out to more users with compatible Chromebooks, with a recommendation for a device with at least 8GB of RAM.
This is not the first time Google has ventured into face gesture control; previously, it launched Project Gameface, an AI-based accessibility tool for gaming on Windows, which is also available for Android. To illustrate how it works, Google has shared a video showing the technology in action, featuring Amanda Lin Dietz, a software engineer who collaborated in its development.
On another note, new Chromebooks are being announced that will launch in 2025, with more than 20 devices joining the Chromebook and Chromebook Plus lines this year. This number might be considered a bit optimistic, as Google includes in this count the Samsung Galaxy Chromebook Plus that was released in October; however, the recently announced Lenovo Chromebook Plus 2-in-1 14-inch is also on the list, among others that are to come.
Alongside laptops aimed at educators and students, Google is introducing a new set of tools for ChromeOS, known as Class Tools, which will allow teachers to control their students’ screens in real-time. Once a pairing code is shared, educators will have the capability to send content directly to the screens of their students' Chromebooks, activate captions or live translations, remotely view their screens, and share a student's work with the entire class.
In addition to these collaborative tools, Google Classroom will integrate FigJam from Figma, allowing teachers to assign virtual whiteboards to students for brainstorming and group work sessions. The combination of FigJam and the teachers’ ability to monitor students' screens could reveal who is truly contributing to group projects.
