Google Beam
{{Short description|Experimental video conferencing method by Google}}
{{Distinguish|Android Beam|Apache Beam}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}
Google Beam, known as Project Starline in developmental stages, is a video communication method developed by Google that allows the user to see a 3D model of the person they are communicating with. Google announced the product at its 2021 I/O developer conference, saying that it will allow users to "talk naturally, gesture and make eye contact"{{Cite web|date=2021-05-18|title=Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together|url=https://blog.google/technology/research/project-starline/|access-date=2021-05-20|website=Google|language=en-us}} by utilizing machine learning, spatial audio, computer vision and real-time compression to create the 3D effect without the user wearing typical virtual reality goggles.{{Cite web|title=Project Starline: Google's video chat makes it look like users are physically in the same room|url=https://techxplore.com/news/2021-05-starline-google-video-chat-users.html|access-date=2021-05-20|website=techxplore.com|language=en}} The goal is to make the user feel as if they are in the same room with the other user.{{Cite web|last=Molina|first=Brett|title=Project Starline: Google's video chat makes it look like users are physically in the same room|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2021/05/19/project-starline-google-chat-makes-users-feel-like-theyre-together/5161670001/|access-date=2021-05-20|website=USA TODAY|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|last=Perry|first=Alex|title=Google Starline could turn video calls into 3D holographic experiences|url=https://mashable.com/video/google-project-starline-3d-video-calls/|access-date=2021-05-20|website=Mashable|language=en}}
Development
Project Starline had been in development for more than five years prior to the official announcement on May 18, 2021.{{Cite news|title=Google’s Project Starline Wants to Turn You Into a Hologram|language=en-US|work=Wired|url=https://www.wired.com/story/google-project-starline|access-date=2021-05-20|issn=1059-1028}}{{Cite web|last=May 2021|first=Mark Spoonauer 18|title=Google I/O 2021 recap: Android 12, Wear OS, Project Starline and all the big news|url=https://www.tomsguide.com/news/live/google-io-2021-live-blog-android-12-pixel-5a-and-all-the-news-as-it-happens|access-date=2021-05-20|website=Tom's Guide|language=en}} The technology is currently only available in a small number of Google's offices, but the company plans to begin collaborating with certain partners in the next year,{{Cite web|last=Kastrenakes|first=Jacob|date=2021-05-18|title=Google previews Project Starline, a next-gen 3D video chat booth|url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/5/18/22442336/google-project-starline-3d-video-chat-platform|access-date=2021-05-20|website=The Verge|language=en}} particularly partners in the healthcare and media industries.{{Cite web|title=Google’s Project Starline makes two-way communication immersive and realistic|url=https://www.gsmarena.com/googles_project_starline_makes_twoway_communication_immersive_and_realistic-news-49180.php|access-date=2021-05-20|website=GSMArena.com|language=en-US}}{{better source needed|date=October 2022}}
In November 2021, the project was reorganized under a new division called Google Labs (unrelated to the defunct service of the same name) along with Area 120 and Google's AR and VR efforts.{{Cite web |last=Perez |first=Sarah |date=November 11, 2021 |title=Google reorg moves AR, VR, Starline and Area 120 into new 'Labs' team |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/11/google-reorg-moves-ar-vr-starline-and-area-120-into-new-labs-team-reporting-directly-to-sundar-pichai/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111202202/https://techcrunch.com/2021/11/11/google-reorg-moves-ar-vr-starline-and-area-120-into-new-labs-team-reporting-directly-to-sundar-pichai/ |archive-date=November 11, 2021 |access-date=November 14, 2021 |website=TechCrunch}} Google will begin testing the technology with corporations such as Salesforce and T-Mobile beginning in late 2022.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=October 11, 2022 |title=Google is going to test its 3D video chat booth with more companies |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/11/23398308/google-project-starline-3d-video-chat-early-access-program-companies |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011141618/https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/11/23398308/google-project-starline-3d-video-chat-early-access-program-companies |archive-date=October 11, 2022 |access-date=October 13, 2022 |website=The Verge}} In May 2024, Google stated that it was working on integrating Project Starline technology into videoconferencing apps such as Google Meet and Zoom, announcing a partnership with HP.{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=May 13, 2024 |title=Google is bringing Project Starline's 'magic window' experience to real video calls |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/13/24155395/google-project-starline-hp-video-conferencing-2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240513160954/https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/13/24155395/google-project-starline-hp-video-conferencing-2025 |archive-date=May 13, 2024 |access-date=May 13, 2024 |website=The Verge}}
The HP Dimension, to be released in 2025 for US$24,999, is the first commercial version of Google Beam.https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2025/06/hp-reveals-first-google-beam-3d-video-conferencing-setup-priced-at-25000/
Booth
The current implementation of Project Starline is a booth that the user sits in, facing a {{convert|65|in|cm|abbr=on}} "light field display", surrounded by depth sensors, cameras, and lights.{{Cite web|title=Google’s Project Starline is a ‘magic window’ for 3D telepresence|url=https://www.engadget.com/google-project-starline-191228699.html|access-date=2021-05-20|website=Engadget|language=en-US}} Light field technology is a photography technique that captures the direction of light as well as its intensity and color to enable more effective 3D imaging.{{Cite web|title=Lytro Review|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/2/29/2821763/lytro-review|date=2012-02-29|author=David Pierce|access-date=2021-05-24|website=Verge|language=en-US}} The user can then view another user on the display in 3D and vice versa. Google says it plans to "make this technology more affordable and accessible."
Reception
Jay Peters of The Verge was impressed by a demo of Project Starline, comparing it to "real life science fiction".{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=October 13, 2022 |title=A meeting in Google's 3D chat booth felt like real life science fiction |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/13/23400870/google-project-starline-3d-chat-booth-impressions |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013123223/https://www.theverge.com/2022/10/13/23400870/google-project-starline-3d-chat-booth-impressions |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |access-date=October 15, 2022 |website=The Verge}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://beam.google/}}
- [https://research.google/pubs/project-starline-a-high-fidelity-telepresence-system/ Research 2021 paper]
- [https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3641517.3664381 Research 2024 paper]
{{Google LLC}}