Varied uses, including for gaming endeavors.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: Project Tango, Google’s 3D scanning camera, has moved out of Google’s experimental Advanced Technology and Projects division and is ready to graduate to real world development.
The scanner initially took shape as the concept for a smartphone which could scan its surroundings in three dimensions. The scanned 3D image could theoretically be applied to augmented reality in a number of different ways.
The technology could one day be utilized to capture the dimensions of a home before shopping for furniture, giving or getting directions in an unfamiliar space, or even enriching visually impaired individuals’ quality of life by providing assistance for walking around.
Tango could eventually be integrated into gaming endeavors as well.
“Imagine competing against a friend for control over territories in your home with your own miniature army, or hiding secret virtual treasures in physical places around the world,” Google proposes to consumers on the Project Tango website.
Project Tango’s rise out of the experimental phase indicates the technology could be hitting store shelves in the near future. Google is allegedly readying a consumer-viable version in conjunction with LG for release later this year.
Currently, Google has made a Project Tango Development Kit available for programmers to create apps using its 3D capturing capabilities. The kit runs on either a special tablet designed specifically for developers to try out or a proprietary smartphone-like device.
“We’re excited about the continued commitment to developing [Tango] technology for our users — we wish our fellow pirates fair winds and following seas,” wrote ATAP via Google+ post.