In going virtual, I/O is following Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC, June 7–11) and Microsoft Build (May 25–27). It’s usually held at the Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View right across the Googleplex headquarters. The concert venue’s main stage is used for the keynote and other big talks, while the parking lot is covered in tents for sessions.

Google last year took the unprecedented step of not hosting an event whatsoever in light of COVID-19 and surrounding restrictions. The Android team did hold a multi-week event later on in the summer, and other teams hosted smaller events.

How to solve Google I/O 2021 puzzle

In announcing the existence of I/O 2021, Google-like in past years — is shielding the actual dates behind a puzzle. This year’s “punch card” is available here, and the solution is below:

1. “Sophie Germain”
2. Spell out “Hello World” using a punch card
3. “Ada Lovelace”
4. Complete the punch card
5. Complete
6. Complete
7. “Grace Hopper”
8. Arrange cards back-to-front: blue, red, orange, green
9. “Christine Darden”
10. Tap the “sort” button, rearrange functions from 1–6, use arrow keys to navigate to column 79, click “sort” again, repeat until column 70 while making sure functions/comments are arranged from top to bottom, and then “submit”