Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together • Hacker News Board

Re: Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together

#21

Post by amelius » Tue, May 18, 2021, 8:13 PM UTC

abhv wrote: post #2

A good friend of mine at Google is the technical lead of this project (he has a Phd Princeton, and was a professor before joining Google). I've tried it in person and it was truly amazing. They used some very fancy tech when I saw the demo, so I'm thrilled it is finally being announced and possibly shared with a larger audience. Explanation of why it is amazing: It totally fools your perception. No glasses or goggles…

Was this display developed by Google, or did they buy it from elsewhere? Is it still on the market?

Re: Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together

#22

Post by riffic » Tue, May 18, 2021, 8:14 PM UTC

HP did this at least 15 years ago with their "Halo" conferencing systems:

https://www.networkworld.com/article/2258553/inside-the-halo...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC4sNztp8dk

Re: Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together

#23

Post by mrfusion » Tue, May 18, 2021, 8:15 PM UTC

I’m confused what the 3d display screen is? I thought we didn’t have technology like that without glasses?

Re: Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together

#24

Post by dbbk » Tue, May 18, 2021, 8:15 PM UTC

helen___keller wrote: post #17

It looks like magic, when I saw the video I briefly thought it was a joke (ha-ha, they're actually in the same room!). I wonder how much of the magic is software and how much is hardware? The video certainly plays up the software, but I've never used zoom or FaceTime in an 8k video call booth before, so I suppose I don't have a point of comparison.

It's not just an 8K video call, it also has 3D depth.

Re: Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together

#25

Post by helios_invictus » Tue, May 18, 2021, 8:16 PM UTC

Doesn't look like these people are in a prison visit center at all.

Re: Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together

#26

Post by tomduncalf » Tue, May 18, 2021, 8:16 PM UTC

aerovistae wrote: post #10

This reminds me of the devices described in the short story "The Story of Your Life", which is the basis of the movie Arrival. Excellent, excellent story and very different from the movie, if anyone's into that kind of thing.

Seconded, I’ve really enjoyed all of Ted Chiang’s books and wish he was more prolific as I’ve read them all! An excellent writer and I think his style would appeal to the HN crowd as it’s kind of sci-fi, kind of based in science, and many of his stories are quite thought provoking and unique. Also they’re all short stories so great if you struggle finding time to take on a whole book or whatever!

Re: Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together

#27

Post by mrfusion » Tue, May 18, 2021, 8:17 PM UTC

Much simpler idea but I think I’d get a good sense of being together to play table tennis over the quest with a friend. (Sadly none of my friends will buy a quest.)

Re: Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together

#28

Post by varispeed » Tue, May 18, 2021, 8:19 PM UTC

It seems like this could be used in the future dystopian economy. Workers sleeping in little capsules next to a screen where they can choose to see their partner in another factory or AI driven escort. On a serious note likely everyone is going to have at least one at home at some point to use for work meetings, pairing or for home inspections by the government.

Re: Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together

#29

Post by hathawsh » Tue, May 18, 2021, 8:19 PM UTC

Valgrim wrote: post #5

abhv wrote: post #2

A good friend of mine at Google is the technical lead of this project (he has a Phd Princeton, and was a professor before joining Google). I've tried it in person and it was truly amazing. They used some very fancy tech when I saw the demo, so I'm thrilled it is finally being announced and possibly shared with a larger audience. Explanation of why it is amazing: It totally fools your perception. No glasses or goggles…

It sounds like they are using this technology or something similar: https://lookingglassfactory.com/8k

Does anyone know whether they're using that tech, something similar, or something else? I've always been interested in light field technology.

Re: Project Starline: Feel like you're there, together

#30

Post by allenu » Tue, May 18, 2021, 8:21 PM UTC

Really cool execution.

I wonder what the lag is like. I can imagine that's one thing that would break the illusion. I know with something like Zoom I've gotten used to managing the lag over time by taking turns with the other person. However, with the "live" feel of this, there could be an uncanny valley effect if the lag is subtle, but perceptible.

Another thought: this is being presented as ongoing research. I wonder what the corporate thinking is in presenting it now when it's still being tried out. Does Google want capitalize on remote meetings while it's still hot? If the pandemic wanes and we have more in-person meetings, this might not make as big a splash. I remember when I worked at Microsoft, I often noticed research announcements we'd make in public often wouldn't translate to actual product, so I got a bit jaded on any cool new thing that was announced without a product timeline.