Google is working with the USO to bring Google Beam. Its cutting-edge 3D video conferencing technology services members and their families all over the world. A new partnership will make deployments that are far away from home feel a little less far away.
Starting next year, USO locations worldwide will implement this AI-powered system as part of a pilot program. The goal is simple but deep: to let soldiers and their families connect through real-time, life-sized 3D video that makes them feel like they are in the same room.
The goal of the initiative is to help military families stay healthy by encouraging them to make more natural and meaningful connections during times when they are apart.
A new era of connection for Service Members
Mike Linnington, the USO’s CEO, strongly backed the project. He described the technology as “a godsend” for deployed military personnel and their families. This program is part of Google’s ongoing efforts to help the military community, which have included funding for veteran resources and training in digital skills.
The goal of Google Beam, which was once called Project Starline, is to make people feel like they are really there. It uses a light field display and an advanced AI video model to make a 3D effect that looks real.
This lets people make real eye contact and read small facial cues, which lets them get the subtleties of a face-to-face conversation without needing glasses or headsets. The system looks like a big TV screen, but Google made special cameras and sensors for it.
Andrew Nartker, the general manager of Google Beam, said the company is thrilled with the partnership. “Google Beam will help deployed service members feel closer to their families for both big and small moments,” Nartker stated.
How Google Beam is redefining video communication
Google Beam is a big step up from the flat, often long experience of regular video calls. It captures the depth and honesty of talking to someone in person, which is important for gaining trust and understanding.
The technology uses several high-resolution cameras to take pictures of a person from different angles. AI then turns these pictures into a 3D model that can be seen in real time on a special light-field screen that makes things look deeper without any extra equipment.
This immersive quality isn’t just for personal calls. Early tests in the business world have shown very good results. Companies that used the technology said that their nonverbal communication went up by 39% and their memory of what was said in meetings went up by 28% compared to regular video conferences.
Google Beam is being sold to businesses through a partnership with HP. The HP Dimension with Google Beam is a full system that costs $24,999 and is built for high-value business meetings. It’s important to know how this way of having 3D meetings is different from other options on the market, like the one Cisco offers.
| Feature | Google Beam (with HP Dimension) | Cisco Spatial Meetings |
|---|---|---|
| Display Technology | Glasses-free light field display | Requires Apple Vision Pro goggles |
| Core Experience | Life-like 3D presence in a booth or room setup | Spatial meeting experience through a headset |
| Ideal Setting | Dedicated spaces for one-on-one meetings | More flexible, can present one prototype to many headset users |
| Key Differentiator | Natural, face-to-face feeling with no wearable gear | Leverages existing room cameras and popular goggles |
The USO partnership shows how the technology can be used for social good, even though the corporate system costs a lot. Google is making sure that this cutting-edge tool serves a very human purpose by putting Beam in USO centers.
It helps families connect with each other by sharing everyday moments and special occasions, which makes the distance between them feel less overwhelming.
This use of 3D video conferencing technology shows a future where distance won’t stop people from connecting in meaningful ways. That future can’t come soon enough for families in the military.
