HP has introduced the HP Dimension, the first hardware built using Google Beam, a 3D video communication technology formerly known as Project Starline.
The HP Dimension features a 65-inch light field display and six high-speed cameras embedded in the bezel to produce a lifelike 3D video of the person on the other end of a call.
Google recently rebranded Project Starline as Google Beam and opened its design framework to third-party manufacturers, starting with HP. The HP Dimension is targeted at enterprise customers and costs $24,999, excluding the software license required for video calls via platforms like Zoom or Google Meet. License pricing has not yet been disclosed.
Unlike conventional video conferencing, Google Beam requires no headsets or special glasses to view the 3D image. HP’s Beau Wilder noted that no dedicated room setup is necessary, but a white background improves the experience. The aim is to enable users to make natural eye contact and feel as if participants are physically present.
The device supports calls with users on other platforms, but only devices with Google Beam hardware can display the 3D visuals. Supplementing the cameras, the HP Dimension includes adaptive lighting that enhances facial shadows and skin tones for a realistic image.
In addition to the visual technology, the HP Dimension offers spatial audio designed to keep voices aligned with their visual source. It incorporates HP’s Poly Studio A2 table microphones and four speakers placed behind an acoustically transparent curved panel to deliver clear sound directly to the listener.
Andrew Nartker, Google Beam’s general manager, emphasized that the technology aims to recreate the feeling of being together physically, improving remote collaboration.
The HP Dimension will be available later this year in the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, and Japan. Firms such as Salesforce, Deloitte, and NEC have already planned to integrate Google Beam into their offices.