Would you like to make sure that you follow the recommendations exactly? social distancingThanks to Google's technological development and the latest advances in augmented reality, today it is possible to know if you maintain the minimum recommended distance with other people, simply using your mobile phone. One of the best alternatives for this is sodar, an innovative tool based on augmented reality (AR) which helps you accurately visualize a two-meter perimeter around you at all times.
This resource is especially useful in contexts where physical distancing is essential to prevent contagion. We explain in detail how Sodar works, its compatibility, its underlying technology, and other notable augmented reality alternatives to promote social distancing.
What is Sodar and how does Google's augmented reality tool work?
sodar It is a resource developed by Google that uses technology WebXR to apply augmented reality from your mobile device. Unlike a traditional app downloaded from a store, Sodar runs directly from your web browser, specifically from Chrome on Android devices. Android recent. When accessing the website sodar.withgoogle.com, the tool uses the phone's camera to identify the ground and overlay a real image on top of it. two-meter radius digital ring around the user.
This virtual ring acts as a visual barrier, indicating the recommended safe space to comply with social distancing guidelines. This way, when you walk, wait in line, work, or are in any space with other people, you can easily see when someone enters that space. security perimeter.
It is important to emphasize that Sodar is not an installable application, but rather functions as an experimental web tool. This allows for immediate use without requiring additional installations, although its compatibility is limited to specific devices.
Sodar compatibility, requirements and usage
- Compatible devices: Currently, Sodar only works on certain models of Android smartphones that they execute Google Chrome and are compatible with Arcore, the augmented reality platform developed by Google. Although most recent Android phones meet these requirements, Not all devices are guaranteed support.
- Not compatible with iOS: sodar not available for iPhone or for browsers like Safari or Firefox, which limits its use to Android users.
- Simplicity of use: Simply access sodar.withgoogle.com, grant camera permissions, point it at the ground, and move the device slightly until the system recognizes the surface. Once this is done, the two-meter circle will appear on the screen.
- Privacy: Google advises that when using Sodar, only the user can see the camera images, and the website does not store or access the captured visual content.
Sodar is designed for everyday situations such as shopping, being on the street, meetings in restaurants, queues or even during work days when it is essential to respect physical distanceIf you want to learn more about similar technologies, you can explore the best virtual reality glasses for mobile.
The technology behind: WebXR and ARCore
The key to Sodar's operation is the integration of advanced technologies that turn your phone into a real-time distance meter:
- WebXR: It's an API that allows access to augmented and virtual reality capabilities directly from modern web browsers. WebXR can map environments through the camera and overlay virtual objects onto the real world. This means there's no need to install additional software beyond a compatible browser.
- A.R.Core: It's Google's technological foundation for AR experiences on Android. This system analyzes the environment using the device's camera and sensors to understand surfaces, depths and locations, managing to create accurate representations such as the virtual Sodar distance ring.
Thanks to these advances, Sodar can project an exact circumference of two meters, allowing you to know, at any time, if someone is too close. To learn more about other similar applications, visit our section on augmented reality games for children.
What is Sodar used for? Practical uses and real benefits
The application areas for a tool like Sodar are very diverse. Its most notable advantages include:
- Real time display from the safety area recommended by health authorities, avoiding errors of judgment or "eyeball" calculations.
- Ease of maintaining distance in crowded spaces, such as shops, transport, work areas or leisure spaces.
- Raising awareness about preventive measures, since the visualization of the perimeter helps to remember the importance of not exceeding the minimum recommended distance.
While it's not always practical to walk around with your phone constantly in your hand, Sodar is useful in specific situations, such as lines, at the entrances to venues, or during events, where distance can be reduced without realizing it. If you'd like to continue exploring virtual reality, we recommend visiting our article on Self-taught developers who recreate games in virtual reality.
Other alternatives and technologies for social distancing
Technological advancements have led to the emergence of many other augmented reality and artificial intelligence solutions designed to help with compliance with health recommendations. Some of these include:
- Social distancing smart bracelets: There are devices, such as the Covid Radius Romware developed by Rombit, that detect proximity between people in real time and, if the two-meter safety limit is breached, vibrate to alert the user.
- Systems integrated into security cameras: Artificial intelligence-based solutions can analyze camera images in real time and determine whether people are maintaining proper distancing, sending alerts or reporting rule violations.
- Mobile Device Counting Apps: Some universities and developers have created apps that detect the number of smartphones in a given area, estimating space occupancy and helping to avoid crowding. One example is the University of Alicante project, which allows users to determine the level of saturation in public areas while ensuring user anonymity.
These systems complement the work of augmented reality solutions and offer greater control in industrial settings, public spaces, or mass events. If you'd like to learn more about augmented reality games for Android that can help you better understand how this technology works, please do not hesitate to consult it.
Usage tips and additional considerations
While tools like Sodar make it easier to maintain social distancing, it's a good idea to remember the following:
- Check your mobile compatibility Before attempting to use Sodar, make sure that it has ARCore support and is running the latest version of Chrome.
- Use the tool as a support in key situations: lines, closed spaces, meetings, supermarket queues and other moments where perception may fail.
- Continue wearing a mask and disinfectant even if you maintain the recommended distance, since transmission by aerosols and other factors may require additional measures.
- check the permissions that you grant to the application to ensure your digital privacy and security.
Recent scientific studies have highlighted that particles emitted by a cough or sneeze can travel distances greater than two meters and remain suspended in the air for longer than initially thought. Therefore, physical distancing should always be complemented by the use of masks, hand hygiene, and avoiding touching your face.
Sodar – Use WebXR to help visualize social distancing guidelines in your environment. Using Sodar on compatible mobile devices, create a two meter radius augmented reality ring around you. #hacktohelp
– Experiments with Google (@ExpWithGoogle)
Sodar: the real utility of augmented reality in everyday life
Sodar demonstrates how the augmented reality It can be a key ally in promoting health. Its ease of use, the fact that it doesn't require installation, and the immediacy of the experience make it an innovative and practical solution. If your phone is compatible, we encourage you to try it and experience how technology can help you comply with essential, everyday measures such as social distancing.
The development of these types of solutions, along with other AI tools and smart devices, is redefining the way we prevent infections and manage safety in public spaces. The integration of technology into personal and collective care continues to advance, providing new possibilities for caring for ourselves and those around us every day.
