Want to make sure you're practicing social distancing due to the COVID pandemic? Now there's an app for that! Well, technically it's not an app, but rather a browser tool that will help you follow social distancing guidelines.
Called 'sodar', is an augmented reality (AR) app from Google, and is expected to help users follow social distancing rules when away from home.
According to Google, Sodar will create a virtual ring of social distancing around you. The ring will have a 2 meter radius (~6.5 feet) according to the recommendations of experts and health agencies.
Google's 'Sodar' AR Tool Helps Follow Social Distancing Guidelines
As already mentioned, Sodar is not a standalone app, but works from the browser on mobile devices. According to Google, users will have to open a dedicated website – sodar.withgoogle.com – in their mobile browser to get started.
Unfortunately, it's only available on a handful of Android devices running Google Chrome, so you can't check it out if you're using an iPhone with Safari. There is no immediate word on whether it will be expanded to include more platforms and browsers in the future.
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) May 28, 2020
Sodar for social distancing
Sodar uses a relatively new technology called WebXR to add Augmented Reality images to the real world. It was included in Chrome 79 last December. Unfortunately, the tool doesn't seem to work on all Android devices, and it may not work on your phone even after granting all the permissions it asks for.
Some reports suggest that devices need to support ARCore for the feature to work, but Google hasn't officially announced anything to that effect yet.
As you can see from the GIF above, Sodar is actually a very good tool for following social distancing guidelines. So if your phone is compatible, give it a try and let us know how you rate this Google AR initiative.