With the launch of its Immersive Stream for XR service, Google Cloud hopes to power top-notch photorealistic augmented reality experiences for millions of mobile devices.
The Google Cloud’s graphics processing units power the cloud-hosted rendering service called Immersive Stream for XR. Developers can use it to generate interactive experiences because it can stream detailed, high-quality images and videos to any device.
The main benefit is that it eliminates the requirement for powerful hardware or specialized applications on devices to fully immerse users in 3D or augmented reality (AR) worlds. Instead, Google says users can access “extended reality” by scanning a QR code or clicking a link.
For instance, Immersive Stream for XR makes Google Maps’ “immersive view” function possible. Customers of Google Cloud are also using the service to power various at-home shopping experiences, such as letting users virtually customize a new car or see how new appliances will look in their homes.
Support for Unreal Engine 5, the well-liked graphics engine that drives some of the most well-known video game titles, has also been added to the enhanced version of Immersive Stream for XR. According to Google, companies will be able to develop more excellent and realistic extended reality experiences thanks to Unreal Engine features like Nanite and Lumen.
Google highlighted the use of Immersive Stream for XR on Kia Germany’s website, which enables customers to browse and customize vehicles in photorealistic detail, as an illustration to support its argument. From the vehicle’s website, users can virtually enter the car, explore its interior, and personalize it to their preferences. They can even use its mobile app to see how the vehicle would appear parked in their driveway.
“Our users love that they can change colors and engines and interact with the model in 3D and augmented reality,” said Jean-Philippe Pottier, Manager of Digital Platforms at Kia Germany.
The new service also lets users view historical sites conveniently from their homes. For instance, Virtual Worlds LLC takes pictures of historic locations using photogrammetry, polishes the photos, and then builds interactive experiences.
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