ChromeOS Introduces Face Control And Chromebox OPS For Big Touch Screens

ChromeOS 132, Google presents the Face Control feature through this update (photo: x @NicoChromebook)

JAKARTA In the BETT 2025 event which was held for the education sector, Google announced various new features for ChromeOS and Chromebook devices. Through the ChromeOS 132 update, Google presents a Face Control feature that allows users to move the cursor using head movements and facial expressions through the front camera. This technology is based on Android's Project Gameface. In addition, the Reading mode on ChromeOS now supports text-to-speech with a more natural voice.

Google also introduced more than 20 new Chromebook devices, including Chromebook Plus, which are planned to launch in 2025. One of the other important innovations is Chromebox OPS, a hardware that can turn a large interactive smart board or touch screen into a ChromeOS device. Aimed at educational institutions, the device is developed alongside LG, SMART, Promethean, and Viewsonic. Google describes this device as a simple solution that can prolong smart screen life like ChromeOS Flex.

For institutions that use Google Workspace for Education Plus, a new feature called "Class tools" allows teachers to control Chromebooks in class. With this feature, teachers can share content directly to students' screens, monitor their progress by viewing their screens directly, and display students' outstanding work to all classes. All of this is done in real-time with a special code that students use to join the classroom.

In addition, Google emphasizes a higher capacity limit in NotebookLM Plus, which is designed to support classes and organizations on a large scale. This feature allows professors to share lecture materials in the form of textbooks, YouTube videos, and other documents in the form of digital notebooks with available AI guidelines at any time. IT administrators can also upload their knowledge base to create chat-based help centers that can be accessed by all school users.

This update demonstrates Google's commitment to providing innovative technology solutions for education, focusing on device accessibility, efficiency, and sustainability.