Last year Google 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.
Today, Project Starline prototypes are found in Google offices across the U.S., with employees using the technology every day for meetings, employee onboarding and building rapport between colleagues. Results show Project Starline can increase employee presence, attentiveness, and productivity compared to traditional video calling solutions. People have described the experience as a natural interaction — expressing how connected they felt to the other person sitting across from them.
Google says they have also invited more than 100 enterprise partners in areas like media, healthcare and retail to participate in demos at Google’s offices and today the company announced that they are expanding their testing efforts through an early access program with enterprise partners such as Salesforce, WeWork, T-Mobile and Hackensack Meridian Health.
Google will be doing this by installing prototypes in select partner offices for regular testing.
“The proliferation of hybrid work models is creating new opportunities to fundamentally rethink how we collaborate in the workplace,” says Scott Morey, president of technology & innovation at WeWork. “Project Starline is at the forefront of this shift, providing an incredible user experience that bridges the gap between our physical and virtual worlds. At WeWork, we believe this technology has the potential to enrich the employee experience – making connections more intentional and meaningful.”
“In today’s digital-first world, companies need to provide the technology and tools to help employees be more productive and effective at work,” Andy White, SVP of Business Technology at Salesforce, tells us. “At Salesforce, we’re constantly exploring new ways to deliver incredible experiences to our employees and customers around the world. Project Starline has the potential to drive deeper connections between people by bridging in-person and virtual experiences.”
Google will be sharing more about what they have learned from their early access program in 2023.
