Mobile phone news
Google and Lenovo are making an augmented reality smartphone
Friday, January 8 2016
Kim Staples
Google and Lenovo announced yesterday that the two tech giants are teaming up to build a smartphone with Project Tango's 3D augmented reality technology.
Virtual reality is the phrase of the year at 2016's CES event, but Project Tango allows for a slightly different augmented reality. The device has in-built 3D sensors that take in the world around you, so you can see an altered version of your surroundings.
The tech can be used for exciting games, where you can literally hide from zombies behind the sofa, as well as more practical applications. There's a Lowes app currently in development, for instance, that would help you figure out whether an appliance would fit in your kitchen.
So far it's been put on tablets and headsets, but this is the first time proper AR tech has been integrated into a smartphone.
The goal right now is to create a mainstream VR (well, AR) device that anyone can buy, Lenovo's vice president Jeff Meredith said. This'll likely be especially welcome for tech fans after the Oculus Rift's price was revealed to be a whopping $599 yesterday.
Johnny Lee, Project Tango lead at Google, said: "With Project Tango, the smartphone becomes a magic window into the physical world by enabling it to perceive space and motion that goes beyond the boundaries of a touch screen. By working with Lenovo, we'll be able to make Project Tango more accessible to users and developers all over the world to both enjoy and create new experiences that blends the virtual and real world."
Right now it's still in the developmental stages, but Google and Lenovo have unveiled a rather stylish prototype of the smartphone.
Source: Lenovo | VentureBeat
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