Google’s video conferencing technology, Project Starline, has come a long way since it was initially announced at the I/O conference in 2021. The most recent upgrade entails downsizing the hardware to the size of a huge television.
The system combines cutting-edge technology to provide consumers with an immersive and lifelike experience. It uses eye and ear tracking sensors to transmit stereoscopic video on a flat screen as well as spatial audio, providing the feeling of being in the same room as the person on the other end of the conversation. It also substitutes regular cameras and AI algorithms for the previously used specialist cameras and infrared light emitters.
Project Starline promotes intimacy and realism above pixel counts and frame rates, making it more humanizing and engaging than other typical video conferencing solutions. During a presentation, a Google employee approached the writer from a nearby Starline booth, exhibiting a realistic 3D image and even offering a tempting red apple that was incredibly lifelike.
Project Starline has the potential to revolutionize distant communication by providing an authentic and immersive alternative to regular video conferences. Project Starline’s long-term goal is to deliver a practical and accessible solution for everyday usage, with the goal of being the primary alternative for video conferencing, surpassing current platforms such as Zoom.
The sources for this piece include articles in Axios and YouTube.