Yesterday, HP partnered with Google to revive the latter’s immersive video conferencing solution from its development stages, Project Starline, just in time for I/O 2024.
The device was initially announced at 2021’s I/O conference and underwent several years of development. Now, HP is helping Google to commercialize the product fully so that it is ready for a 2025 market debut.
Project Starline creates more natural remote conversations by presenting a 3D display of a co-worker on a screen that realistically portrays feelings of image depth and movement, tracking a caller’s positioning and creating corresponding animations on display by tracking head and eye positions.
The firms are looking to sell the product as a hybrid working tool, and according to HP, its “expertise” in distributing enterprise-grade solutions such as unified communications and audiovisual technology will allow Google to sell its Starline product worldwide.
According to Google, the company has undergone “thousands of hours of testing” internally and with partners to improve the Starline product in research and development environments.
Alex Cho, the President of Personal Systems at HP, said:
With more than half of meaning and intent communicated through body language versus words alone, an immersive collaboration experience plays an important role in creating authentic human connections in hybrid environments. We are proud to partner with Google to bring this technology to market, harnessing the power of AI to shape the future of collaboration.
Google says that it found that Starline promoted attentiveness, memory recall, and an overall sense of presence during a video conferencing session, allowing remote teams to feel as if they were in the same room.
Moreover, by partnering with HP, Google notes that it will not only be able to leverage HP’s commercialization skills. But also integrate commonplace video conferencing services, including Google Meet and Zoom.
In the past, Google ran an early access program that tested Starline alongside various enterprise end-users, including Salesforce, T-Mobile and WeWork.
In 2023, Andy White, SVP of Business Technology at Salesforce, added:
Trust and innovation are at the heart of Salesforce’s values. Project Starline has the potential to help create authentic and immersive connections that foster deeper relationships with both our employees and customers, enhance trust and transparency, and drive productivity and efficiency.
Google Refines Starline for 2024
In 2023, Google optimized its Starline video conference device by leveraging AI. Originally, prototype Starline devices were cumbersome products which took up space. However, Google chose to refine Starline models as a far-sleeker overall design by leveraging AI.
Google achieved this by utilizing AI as the foundation for its 3D rendering model, which recreates callers. This allows Google to integrate the solution into a smaller form factor.
Starline AI systems use AI to create a lifelike digital representation of a caller, which the hardware then projects onto a light field display, providing a sense of volume and depth.
Project Starline’s XR solution offers an easy transition from video conferencing without the need for complex or inaccessible wearable AR or VR hardware.
The hardware is designed to be familiar and user-friendly, making it accessible to anyone interested in XR communication. Additionally, it addresses Zoom fatigue by creating a more realistic immersive environment without drawing attention to the user’s face.
Will Google I/O Take Over XR & Spatial Computing?
Google’s I/O conference is set to feature the latest updates across its wide range of technologies. Google has a strong presence in enterprise solutions with its products, from smartphones to AI.
However, recent reports suggest that XR solutions may be the focus during the upcoming Google I/O Developer Conference starting on May 14th.
Google has a well-established history of developing enterprise- and consumer-grade AR/VR/MR solutions, including hardware solutions like Google Glass and developer frameworks like ARCore.
Google’s “AR & VR” X account posted a graphic highlighting how I/O will showcase the “latest developer products and AR announcements,” suggesting that a new AR product or solution will debut during the event.
Digging deeper into the rumours, PatentlyApple highlighted how Google recently publicized a patent for smart glasses. Google acquired the smart glasses design from the company North in 2020, and in 2024, ahead of I/O, Google officially filed the patent under its trademark.
In addition to the secretive AR/VR/MR announcements, Google will unveil updates to its broader portfolio, including smartphones, web, ML/AI, and cloud technologies.
The event will feature a general Google keynote to review the latest products and updates. Furthermore, Google will host a series of developer keynotes to showcase new developer tools.