Google, Intel Partner to Bring Depth-Sensing Technology to Android Phones

Intel at its Intel Developer Forum (IDF) in San Francisco showcased new products that the company has been working on. At the event, Intel in collaboration with Google announced the Project Tango Developer Kit for smartphones using its RealSense technology.

The company stressed that this will provide opportunity for developers to create new depth-sensing software for Android smartphone developer kit. Intel confirmed that the developer kit is targeted for release to select Android developers by the end of this year.

The Intel RealSense technology-powered Android smartphone developer kit featuring Google's Project Tango will offer indoor navigation, area learning, virtual reality, 3D scanning, and more.

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich also showcased a prototype device at the event. The prototype of the Android smartphone developer kit included several cameras at the back panel. Krzanich suggested that the device can be used to 3D-scan objects at home before sending for blueprints for professional 3D printing while discussing use cases of the Android smartphone developer kit powered by Intel's RealSense technology at the event. Krzanich also claimed that the Google's Project Tango for phones featuring RealSense "breaks the limits of what a phone can do."

Project Tango is run by Google's Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) division. The development kits can be used to make "apps" that track full 3D motion and recognise surfaces of things nearby.

In June, Qualcomm had announced plans to develop a Project Tango smartphone with Google. The smartphone was confirmed to be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 810 processor alongside featuring the 3D motion-tracking capabilities that Project Tango seeks to develop and promote.

Earlier this year, Google put the Project Tango tablet on sale through the Google Store at $512 (approximately Rs. 33,000).

Disclosure: Intel sponsored the correspondent's flights and hotel for the event in San Francisco.