Google is known to be the market leader when it comes to new age innovations. Be it search engines, Virtual Reality (VR), Artificial Intelligence (AI), or Augmented Reality; its products have captured the world’s attention. The recently concluded I/O conference too showed a glimpse of the key happenings inside the Google tech labs working on the futuristic technology.
An emphasis on Augmented Reality (AR)
One of the exciting highlights of the event was its standalone Augmented Reality (AR) project. It is a headset that goes by the codename “Google A65” and that it will use new Qualcomm chips.
The Qualcomm chips used in the Google A65 – QSC603 – are four-core system chips that are also estimated to be a part of the next-gen Microsoft HoloLens. Google A65 is said to be built by Taiwanese computer giants, Quanta. The project is still said to be in its making stages, according to the documents that have been obtained by WinFuture.
A background about Quanta
Quanta is the same company that was involved in the making of the esteemed Pixel C tablet, which was launched in 2015. It is said that the QSC603 can power an output video at an unbelievably stunning WQHD (Wide Quad HD) resolution, at display 3D overlays and supports other major graphic interfaces like OpenGL, OpenCL and even Vulcan.
Highlights of the AR headset
The headset that Google is coming up with is rumoured to include camera sensors and microphones that allow users to operate the device using the Google Assistant, as reported by CNET. “The headset is supposedly based on custom quad-core internet-of-things (IoT) focused Qualcomm QSC603, supporting up to 2,560 x 1,440 resolution and 1080p and 1030p video capture, 3D overlays, rendering interfaces, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS and the Android neural networks application programming interface (API)”, the CNET report added.
Google is already in the process of manufacturing AR headsets called the “Google Glass,” that comes in with a heads-up display and camera. Google glass was launched in 2013. However, Google A65 is said to resemble Microsoft’s “HoloLens” in ways more than one. Firstly, the operation style, then the advanced RISC machines (ARM) – powered design and lastly the Qualcomm chipset that we have already mentioned about as being a part of the next-gen HoloLens. These characteristics are very similar to the Microsoft AR product.
Bearing in mind the advances made by Google in terms of bettering AR, mainstreaming Augmented Reality in the next couple of years does not seem like an impossibility, especially when companies like Apple and Samsung are also leaping at chances to make the most of this.
There is no confirmed release date for Google A65 (we refer to the codename for now). However, Google assures that this would be made public soon since it is still in its formative stages.
