San Francisco (AFP)
Those who do not have the compass in their eyes will be able to use their smartphone to keep their distance, thanks to an augmented reality tool which draws around them, on the screen, a radius of 2 meters.
Google presented on Friday a tool called "Sodar", made available this week on Android phones.
Users will see a white circle appear around them, to visualize the distance to respect with others, according to the recommendations of the health authorities to avoid spreading the coronavirus.
The tool uses augmented reality technology, which displays virtual objects and textures on its real environment, via the screen.
In video games like Pokemon Go, it allows you to "see" the characters, and catch them, in your living room or on the lawn. Advertisers use it to offer consumers the opportunity to "test" a lipstick color.
Augmented reality also allows you to dress up with rabbit ears during a video call via certain applications.
Sodar visually warns the user when someone enters their non-contagion space.
The tool works on all smartphones operated by Android (the Google interface) that have the technical capabilities required for augmented reality.
It was developed by the "Experiments with Google" project launched by the group to invent solutions that help people cope with the Covid-19 pandemic.
© 2020 AFP