Imagine peering through a magical window and seeing another person, life-size and in three dimensions. Google’s Project Starline enables friends, families, and co-workers to stay connected even when they are miles apart.
Kicked off last year, Project Starline is Google’s 3D video calling booths, integrated with high-resolution cameras, custom depth sensors, and groundbreaking light displays to create a lifelike experience for users.
Now, Google says it will have the prototypes of Project Starline installed and tested at some of the company’s partner offices including Salesforce, T-Mobile, and WeWork later this year.
The staff from the program partners who experienced the product for meetings or presentations said that Starline was impressive despite being just in the demo phase.
The project promises to bring the first real-life science fiction to the world if successfully tested.
With the Starline system, each participant will sit in a phone booth with a series of infrared cameras and sensors. The cameras and sensors record 3D images of callers from various angles.
These images will then be transmitted in real-time to the participant in the video call.
Combined with head-loop tracking and a glassless 65-inch, 8K display, Google’s system will make you feel like the person on the other end of the line is sitting right in front of you.
The digital shift in visual communication already came into the tech business before the start of the pandemic.
As demand for online chatting and conversations has surged since the outbreak, tech giants started to explore different ways to stay connected. Amongst those companies, Google is leading an effort to provide a fresh new experience with Project Starline.
3D projection technology has grown in popularity since the early 2000s. Some music shows include 3D graphics of the late performer performing on stage. It’s unclear how much Google has spent on Project Starline, but given the installation, the technology is quite costly and hefty. While virtual communication technologies and the metaverse are expanding, it is difficult to build a foothold in the current market for a project with 3D projections. It takes a lot of equipment and a separate booth to install and chat. Google is seemingly far from mass production.
Image Credit and Source: Google Blog
