Google I/O: Project Ara phone assembled on stage at ATAP keynote, and it works

On day 2 of the Google I/O developers conference, at the ATAP keynote, Google engineer Rafa Camargo assembled a Project Ara phone as part of a live demo, and the phone came alive soon after.

After inserting all the individual modules onto the phone body, Camargo turned on the phone running Android 5.0 Lollipop. While the phone was on, he then inserted the camera module. Now despite a new module being added on to the assembly, the phone did not require any sort of rebooting.

i just got chills with this project ara demo — he booted the phone WITHOUT the camera module and then added it after pic.twitter.com/j3NDOcEKAT

— Sam Sheffer (@samsheffer) May 29, 2015

The camera worked seamlessly and Camargo even ended up taking a photograph of the Google I/O audience.

Project Ara is Google ATAP’s initiative which aims to build a modular smartphone where in you can assemble your own smartphone by adding modules such as a display, camera, processor, battery and so on.

Google had announced earlier this year, that it will unveil a modular smartphone in Puerto Rico this year as part of a pilot program that will allow people to choose their own hardware based on their needs and interests.

Toshiba has teamed up with  Gujarat-based Einfochips  to provide chips for Google’s Project Ara. The camera modules will be made available in both 5MP and 13MP versions, and a 2MP front-facing module is also in the works.