Smartphone users have a new way to keep their distance — a tool that lets them know when people are getting closer than pandemic guidelines recommend.
The Google-developed Sodar toolavailable this weektaps intoAndroidsmartphone cameras to put users in the centre of a white circle with a radius of about two meters, or 6.5 feet.
The perimeter, determined based on pandemic social distancing guidelines, is made using the same kind of augmented reality technology in smartphone games such asPokemon Go.
Circles superimposed on surroundings move with users, keeping smartphones in the centre. Users get a visual warning when they are within the potentially hazardous radius.
Sodar works through Google-madeChromebrowsers on Android smartphones that support augmented reality, according to the California-based internet firm.
"This experiment uses (the application program interface) WebXR to visualise 2-metre social-distancing guidelines in your environment," a message at the website said.
The tool came out of an "Experiments With Google" projecton technology hacks to help people cope with the coronavirus pandemic.
How are we staying sane during this Coronavirus lockdown? We discussed this onOrbital, our weekly technology podcast, which you can subscribe to viaApple PodcastsorRSS,download the episode, or just hit the play button below.
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