14 DAY TRIAL // Project Tango started out with a smartphone device that uses cameras and sensors to build 3D models of their environment, but Google is currently moving upstream with the endeavor.
And not so long ago, Google rolled out the Project Tango Developer Kit which invites devs to start building apps for the 7-inch tablet. The device runs on an NVIDIA Tegra K1 processor and sells for a hefty $1,024 / €750.
The dev unit comes equipped with a front-facing camera with 120 degree viewing angle, a 4MP, 2 μm pixel camera on the back plus an extra motion-track camera and embedded depth sensor.
Google has the tablet on display at the I/O event this week, so it appears the search giant is not wasting any time with it and that’s about right.
As reported by TechChrunch, Google just announced during a session that it is working together with LG to bring Project Tango to phones and tablets.
The interesting part comes now: it appears that the first consumer-ready device we’re about to see arrive into the wild is going to be a tablet, a product which will bear LG’s branding and is set to appear early next year.
A specific time frame or pricing for the tablet haven't been revealed, but we certainly hope the slate arriving in retail won’t be sold for such a huge price as the developer edition.
Surely, Project Tango devices aren't exactly ready for launch, but specific applications for it are already starting to emerge. For example, Technical Program Lead for Advanced Technologies and Projects (ATAP) Johnny Lee showed a demo of a Unity-based game that relies on Tango’s capabilities of understanding where the person playing the game is located in the room.
Even at this quite early stage, the technology manages to be rather precise, with drift remaining under the 1% threshold. This margin is expected to be lowered in the upcoming months.
Until early 2015, Google has plenty of time to work with third-party app developers in order to bring some interesting, immersive 3D games and applications to the tablet.
So, in a few months’ time, you could be able to picture what your bathroom might look like after an interior design makeover or you might be able to follow the characters from your favorite games around the house.