Google has revealed that testing on its Project Starline is set to be expanded through an early access program.
The project is a 3D video chat platform that uses multiple cameras and sensors to build up an image of a participant from different perspectives and present them to another participant.
The company has confirmed that Project Starline prototypes have been deployed in Google offices across the United States of America, with employees using the technology for meetings, employee onboarding and collaborating with colleagues.
Andrew Nartker, Director, Product Management, commented: “As hybrid work expands its footprint, how we work and collaborate continues to evolve.
“We’re continuing to explore ways to bring teams together and facilitate employee connection from afar through technology.
“That’s why last year we announced Project Starline, a technology project that enables coworkers to feel like they are together, even when they are cities apart.
“The technology works like a magic window, where users can talk, gesture and make eye contact with another person, life-size and in three dimensions.”
According to Google, Project Starline can increase employee presence, attentiveness, and productivity compared to traditional video calling solutions, with people describing the experience as a “natural interaction”.
Google has also invited more than 100 enterprise partners in sectors such as healthcare, the media, and retail to provide feedback and how the project can apply to their businesses.
Nartker added: “We look forward to seeing how Project Starline can help employees form strong ties with one another, doctors form meaningful bonds with their patients, and salespeople make deeper connections with their clients and customers.
“Whether you’re presenting to a colleague or just sitting down for a coffee chat, we want the Project Starline experience to feel natural, as if the person is sitting in the same room as you.
“More broadly, we are eager to enable workforces to feel energized and productive when collaborating from afar.
Google first announced that Project Starline was in development in May last year.
The technology is being developed to ensure that both participants get a 3D experience without needing headsets.
When the company made the announcement, it released a video which highlighted how Project Starline works.
Google has confirmed that it will provide further updates on Project Starline in 2023.
