NewsWorkspace Tech14 May 2024 · 3 min read

Google, HP Partner To Transform Hybrid Meetings With XR Video Solution

Google and HP have partnered to commercialise the former's Project Starline immersive collaboration solution and bring it to workplaces.

Kieran Devlin

Google and HP XR video for hybrid meetings

Google and HP have partnered to commercialise the former's Project Starline immersive collaboration solution and bring it to workplaces.

Project Starline, a Google project initially announced at Google's 2021 I/O event, intends to revolutionise video conferencing through increased immersion by leveraging advanced technology such as AI, 3D animation, immersive displays, and spatial audio to create hyper-realistic 3D representations.

A device reminiscent of a next-gen webcam and screen combination in physical design, Project Starline has spent several years in development. With HP's assistance, Google is set to fully commercialise the product for a 2025 market debut, focusing on distributed teams and hybrid workforces.

Starline will work directly with major video platforms, such as Google namechecking Google Meet and Zoom.

Andrew Nartker, General Manager at Project Starline, wrote in a blog:

Today, we’re excited to share that we’re bringing the technology out of the lab with a focus on connecting distributed teams and individuals in the workplace. We’re partnering with HP to start commercialization of this unique experience in 2025 and are working to enable it directly from the video conferencing services you use today — such as Google Meet and Zoom."

Google reports it has spent "thousands of hours" testing Project Starline across its offices and with enterprise partners. The company asserts that Starline meetings feel more like being in the same room compared to traditional video calls, resulting in better attentiveness, memory recall, and an overall sense of presence.

Nartker added that HP's "expertise in computing", complemented by its investment in Poly’s collaboration solutions, makes the business "uniquely positioned to deliver new and innovative experiences worldwide".

More Details On The Project Starline News

Project Starline enhances remote conversations by displaying a 3D image of a co-worker on a screen. It realistically portrays depth and movement in what Google describes as being like a "magic window". It tracks the caller’s head and eye positions to create corresponding animations, making interactions more natural and lifelike.

Previously, Google conducted an early access program to test Starline with various enterprise end-users, including Salesforce, T-Mobile, and WeWork.

In 2023, Google optimised its Starline video conference device by leveraging AI. Initially, prototype Starline devices were bulky and space-consuming. However, Google refined the design to be much sleeker by utilising AI for its 3D rendering model, which recreates callers. This AI foundation allowed for a more compact form factor. Starline's AI systems generate lifelike digital representations of callers projected onto a light field display, providing a sense of volume and depth.

Project Starline’s XR solution offers a seamless transition from video conferencing without the need for complex AR or VR wearables. The hardware is designed to be familiar and user-friendly, making XR communication accessible. Additionally, it intends to address video conferencing fatigue by creating a more immersive environment that doesn't focus on the user's face, enhancing the overall experience.

"HP's expertise in computing, combined with our leadership in Poly audio and video technology, makes HP well-equipped to deliver the solution needed for this new and innovative experience," said Alex Cho, President of Personal Systems at HP. "Our strong partnerships in unified communications, audiovisual technology, and the collaboration space, along with our global presence and salesforce, will help bring the unique Starline experience to more people worldwide."

What Else Has Google Been Up To Recently?

Earlier this month, Google introduced Google Threat Intelligence, which combines an in-depth view of threats with Gemini’s AI capabilities to “supercharge” the process.

Gemini, formerly Bard, is Google’s multimodal large language AI model designed to identify security threats and summarise its findings. Google Threat Intelligence uses Gemini1.5 Pro’s AI capabilities to provide IT security teams with a more efficient and effective solution for combating malware.

In other Google news, last month, the tech giant announced that interoperability between its Chat service and Microsoft Teams and Slack is now generally available for Google Workspace customers.

First announced at Google Cloud Next 2023 last year, the capability was previously available to Workspace customers through Google’s Beta programme, but now all Google Workspace customers can collaborate with colleagues and clients on other messaging platforms.

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