DIGITAL LIFE

Social distancing: Google tool shows safe area by mobile 

Google has announced a tool that aims to help maintain social distancing, to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The 'Sodar' is an augmented reality application that shows, through the camera of the mobile phone, a circular area with radius of 2 meters around the user – minimum distance recommended by the health authorities to avoid contamination with the new coronavirus.
The service works on Android smartphones compatible with ARCore (see the list of devices that support the feature) and does not require download. The solution can be of great value in the current phase of the pandemic, especially for regions that are making quarantine more flexible. 

How to use Google Sodar to maintain social estrangement
To use Sodar, just go to the link sodar.withgoogle.com through your smartphone's Chrome browser. When opening the application page, click the 'launch' button, in green. Then point the camera of the mobile phone to the floor and take a few steps for it to identify the space.
When small white dots appear on the screen, point the phone normally forward, as if looking at other people through the lens.
You will notice, observing the image captured by the camera, that there is a circle around you. It indicates the safe distance you should keep from someone else to run less risk of contagion.
To date, Google Sodar is not available for iPhone (iOS). 

Ana Marques-Brazil