Google has unveiled its vision of the future of video conferencing
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Google’s plan to change the way we communicate using video conferencing software has just been taken to the next level with the rollout of Project Starline to Google offices and more locations across the US.
Despite Meta’s growing success in VR headsets, Google remains committed to holographic shapes. Google says the “magic window” allows users to “talk, gesture and make eye contact with another person, life size and in three dimensions”.
Of course, the technology and hardware required for this can be quite expensive, including machine learning, computational vision, spatial audio and light field rendering systems, but all of these together bring us the most realistic rendering to date.
Google Project Starline
Google thinks a boost in communication prompts could help make meetings more efficient, saving businesses time and money. In its own research, it saw an average of about 40% more hand gestures, about 25% more head nods and about 50% more eyebrow movements.
Internal testing at Google sites has proved successful, and after several visits from partner companies in retail, media and healthcare, the tech giant now hopes to roll out demos in offices other than its own. The early access program, which begins this year, will install prototypes in the offices of Salesforce, WeWork, T-Mobile and Hackensack Meridian Health as the future of video conferencing moves one step closer to reality.
In addition to building and nurturing business relationships, Google sees its Starline stands expanding to include customer-business relationships and even “just sit down for a cup of coffee,” although it will likely be years before this technology becomes commonplace in domestic environments.