Google acquires company that wants to use phone screen as a speaker

Google has acquired a company that wants to use phone screens as loudspeakers. The company, Redux, also claimed to be working on a way to make a touchscreen only vibrate in a certain spot, which is currently not possible.

The British Redux came into the hands of Google Ireland in December, according to a document from Companies House. Crunchbase reports that Google already acquired Redux in August, but Bloomberg news agency was the first to write about it on Thursday.

Using a phone screen as a speaker frees up space in the housing for other components, such as a larger battery, according to the financial news agency. Google put stereo speakers on the front of its Pixel 2 phones.

Redux also worked on a way to make the screen only vibrate where the user touches it, in order to provide immediate haptic feedback. Such a technology is not yet available in smartphones and would make it possible to make buttons on a flat screen tangible. This can make typing on an onscreen keyboard work better, among other things.

Google confirmed the acquisition to Bloomberg, but declined to disclose details about its plans with Redux’s technology and people.