Project Starline seeks to bridge the gap between video calling and immersive experiences. The need was created due to travel restrictions that have roiled the world since 2020. The COVID-19 lockdown triggered a hunger for people to desire to be close. The desire to be together felt more important; people now always want to share, connect, and be with their loved ones. To solve the problem, so many projects have been going on among big tech companies, and last year, Google began to work on a project called Starline.
Take Away Points
- To solve the problem of people longing to be with loved ones, Google introduced a project called Starline.
- The Starline project is a virtual reality technology like a magic window that enables 360-degree person-to-person communication.
- Through this window, a user can feel physically present with the person with whom they are communicating, even if they are in different cities or countries.
What is the Google Starline Project?
The Google Starline Project is a virtual reality technology that enables families, coworkers, and friends to feel they are together while communicating, even though they’re cities or countries apart.
Person-To-Person Communication Technology
During the COVID-19 lockdown, there were strict restrictions on physical interaction and visitation, and this gave rise to an increase in remote work.
Through the period and afterward, people began to spend more time on the internet, social media, and emails looking for more means to communicate with their loved ones. There was a hunger to see loved ones, friends, and co-workers, and web3 brought a solution with the introduction of Metaverse.
Companies began to invest in this solution, and since then, there have been numerous projects underway, and brands from various categories have entered the metaverse.
Fashion brands like Gucci, Nike, and Balenciaga; entertainment industries like Animal Concerts; game companies like Walmart, ReadyPlayerMe, Sandbox, and Gravity; and countries like Dubai have entered the metaverse. Others have also entered, and others are working towards it.
What is the Google Magic Window?
Magic window is a technology that allows users to interact with content in a 360-degree view. To advance more, the Starline project used a technology that combines hardware and software to create something like a magic window. Through that window, users can talk naturally, and see the person’s life-size in three dimensions; gesture, and make eye contact with the person, like they are physically there.
How Does Google Magic Window Work?
According to Google, they have been working on products that will help people connect more over the years. They improved email with Gmail, created Google Photos to help share pictures with loved ones, and Google Meet to see one another while chatting.
Google explained how it works: once you sit down and start talking, the technology fades into the background.
“One of the things we are most proud of is that as soon as you sit down and start talking, the technology fades into the background, and you can focus on what’s most important: the person in front of you.” They further added, “We’re really excited about the progress we’re making with Project Starline, and the technology’s potential to solve the important problem of wanting to be together with someone even when you physically can’t. We look forward to sharing more later this year. “
Project Starline is live.
From the report, the project has been tested. They connected with their colleagues in the Bay Area, New York, and Seattle; and conducted demos with some of their partners in healthcare and media to know how it works.
Starline is only available in a few of their offices, and they are currently working on how to make it accessible and incorporate it into communication products.