Google has announced a new operating system for the Internet of Things, known as Project Brillo. It's built on a stripped-down version of Android, provides a common language for connected home devices, as well as a user-friendly interface that makes it easier to set up hardware.
Project Brillo is based on Android, running on the same basic code, but stripped back enough that it can run on a wide range of devices, much of which don't have the horsepower to deal with more complex software. The platform will include a new design language called WEAVE, that can be read by different devices, from smart locks to thermostats and beyond.
Google is taking a modular approach here, with developers given the option of using both the Project Brillo OS and WEAVE together, or just running the new language on top of their existing stack.
Perhaps the most compelling part of the platform from a consumer point of view is the new, slick-looking user interface. We've only seen a brief glimpse of the software, but we know that it's designed to bring together the user's smart home hardware, providing the same unified setup for any device.
A developer preview of Project Brillo will be available in Q3 2015, while WEAVE will be available from Q4 2015.
Stay tuned for more from Google I/O 2015, where Gizmag is on the ground.