Technology
Google is bringing Halloween to life using Augmented reality (AR)
On Google Search, there's an AR ghost. There is a dancing skeleton, a collection of creepy jack-o'-lanterns, and costumed cats and dogs, too. Ahead of the U.S. Halloween weekend, Google unveiled a series of cool, augmented reality features on Google Search that appear as an option when you search for unique Halloween words using a mobile device.
For example , if you search for the word "Halloween" and scroll down the search results page, you will see a box that prompts you to "Summon a 3D Ghost." When you tap the "Display in 3D" button, you will be able to see the Ghost floating around your room.
On the iPhone, you'll first have to move your phone around the room to get started, much as with other AR apps. On Android devices, however, the ghost instantly appears in 3D, but there's a separate "View in Your Room" button that places the ghost in the environment with you.
Google says the features work in the Google Search app and the mobile browser.
Once the AR object is put in your space, you can move around it to view it from various angles, move closer or farther away, or drag it around with your finger. The object also leaves a shadow on the floor to make it seem like it's really there.
Spooky, Halloween music is often played in the background as AR objects float or dance in your room. Then, if you like, you can take a picture or a video to share elsewhere.
In addition to the AR ghost, you can check for a set of three jack-o'lanterns, a dancing skeleton, a hot dog (well, a hot dog costume dog), a pirate dog, and a magic cat.
The latter two will appear when you google for the keywords "dog" or "cat," while the quest for "hot dog" will bring up the playful dachshund that paws on the ground and wags its tail. Searches for "skeleton" and "jack-o'-lantern" (and some variations) will pull the others up.
You can also see a pop-up at the bottom of the main Google.com landing page that recommends you download the latest AR functionality, but it didn't come up reliably for us on any visit.
Google has been playing with AR features on Google Search for some time , offering 3D models of animals, locations, spaceships, celestial bodies like the moon, planets and more, as well as biology terminology, anatomical systems, chemistry terms, plus vehicles, shoes, and even Santa.
Unfortunately, there is no simple way to locate all the AR items provided in one location that you normally only come across while looking.
Besides the AR Halloween search tool, Google has launched two new doorbell ringtones for its Hello Nest products, "Black Cat" and "Werewolf." You will continue to use the sounds introduced last year, such as zombies, vampires, witches or witch sounds, for example.
Google Assistant, meanwhile, is now telling Halloween-themed riddles and can sing a Halloween song, as well, in another holiday node.
