Google app shows if you're complying with social distancing with Augmented Reality

In times of social distancing, due to the pandemic of new coronavirus, if you had to leave the house, the recommendation is to keep a distance of at least two meters from everyone you meet. But, in practice, how much is this two-meter arc? Now there is a application do Google, sodar, which will help you fulfill this recommendation. Using Augmented Reality, the app shows a virtual arc with radius of two meters around the user on the mobile screen.

Whenever you're in doubt if you're far enough away from someone, just open the application through Google Chrome and check. With the use of Augmented Reality, the marking follows any movement, in any direction. The feature is very useful, for example, for queues and any environment that has agglomeration of people, such as a supermarket.

If the application show that you are too close to someone, just walk away. And if you show that someone is too close to you, just ask (politely) for the person to back off. The goal is to help keep you safe out there.

For now, the application de Augmented Reality is only available for smartphones Android, exclusively through the browser Google Chrome.

Augmented reality WebXR technology

O application works via browser, using the API ("Application Programming Interface", in free translation) of the WebXR, which supports 3D rendering for Augmented Reality. Theoretically, the app works on any Android compatible with Arcore (including the Google made available a list of compatible devices), which is now called “Google Play Services for Augmented Reality".

But there is an easier way for you to confirm that your device is compatible. Just access Sodar's page on a PC or notebook and scan, with your smartphone, the QR Code that appears on the screen (just like you do to access WhatsApp Web, for example). You can also access the page https://sodar.withgoogle.com/ directly from Google Chrome on your Android phone.

“Google Play Services for AR” unlocks augmented reality experiences created with ARCore. Through automatic updates, AR-capable apps work without additional downloads.

Other Google actions in the pandemic

The app development sodar is one among other actions of the Google to help fight the new coronavirus pandemic. In April, Apple and Google announced a historic partnership to help contain the spread of COVID-19, respiratory disease caused by the virus. Tech giants have proposed creating unique GUI tools and APIs to Android e iOS, to perform the screening of people with COVID-19. O showmetech explained How will this technology work?.

Another action by Google related to the pandemic was the Implementing features in Google Meet and Duo apps to improve video calls. This was necessary because remote work is becoming more and more necessary and common, for the protection and well-being of people during quarantine. In this scenario, the number of video calls has skyrocketed and updates aim to meet this demand.

Other ideas to help (and get informed) in combat

A map created by the project Together Against Covid shows the risk of contamination by the new coronavirus in Brazilian neighborhoods. Developed by Faissal Nemer Hajar, a medical student at the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), this map collects information provided voluntarily by users and, using its own algorithm, analyzes this data and manages to indicate which neighborhoods and streets have the most cases. confirmed from new coronavirus.

Speaking of maps, the ecosystem developed the app COVID-19 Tracker all with Windows 10, which brings data on the evolution of the pandemic in the world to the computer screen, in real time. The application works with Microsoft's search platform, the Bing. In its interface, the program brings up-to-date data on cases, as well as relevant news and videos taken from sources that the application considers reliable. It is also possible to save specific locations to monitor the evolution of the pandemic.

Sources: The Verge e Play Store