HP has emerged as the first company to showcase hardware specifically developed for Google Beam, the innovative 3D video communication platform previously known as Project Starline. The new device, named the HP Dimension, features a striking 65-inch light field display and is equipped with six high-speed cameras embedded in its bezel, allowing it to deliver what the company describes as lifelike 3D video interactions with callers.
Last month, Google officially announced the rebranding of Project Starline, stating that it will permit third-party manufacturers, beginning with HP, to utilize its design framework for creating devices compatible with Beam. Targeted primarily for enterprise use, the HP Dimension retails at $24,999, exclusive of any necessary software. To enable video calls through platforms like Zoom or Google Meet, users will need to procure a Google Beam license separately, although HP and Google have yet to disclose the cost of these licenses.
In a demonstration of Google Beam, my colleague Alex Heath highlighted that users do not require headsets, glasses, or any specialized equipment to perceive colleagues as if they were physically present in the same room. Beau Wilder, HP’s head of future customer experiences, noted that a special setting is unnecessary; however, a plain white background can enhance the overall experience.
“We’re not trying to put a caricature in a small box across the table from you,” Wilder emphasized. “We want you to walk into the room and instantly make eye contact without even thinking about it.”
The Dimension is designed to provide a realistic depiction of colleagues on the other end of the call. While HP Dimension users can still communicate with individuals using other video conferencing tools, those users will not experience the 3D projection of their counterparts. The device features a range of built-in cameras and adaptive lighting, which adjusts to the environment to produce realistic shadows on faces and natural skin tones.
Enhanced by spatial audio, the HP Dimension ensures that “voice never separates from the body,” according to Wilder. It includes HP’s new Poly Studio A2 table microphones and is outfitted with four speakers strategically located behind a curved, acoustically transparent mid-wall to facilitate optimal sound delivery.
“The ultimate goal of Google Beam — and it’s manifested in HP Dimension — is to feel like you’re there,” stated Andrew Nartker, general manager of Google Beam, during the briefing. “You feel just like you’re at the table working together … It’s all meant to bring us together and ultimately feel like we’re completely physically present.”
The HP Dimension is set to launch later this year in several countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Japan. Major companies such as Salesforce, Deloitte, and NEC Corporation have already pledged to implement Google Beam within their office environments.