Google brings Beam (3D video) to USO centers to connect deployed service members with families

Google is partnering with the USO on a pilot that will place Beam — the company’s 3D video conferencing technology — in USO service centers in the US and abroad starting in 2026. Beam (previously known as Project Starline) uses 3D imaging, spatial audio and adaptive lighting to create a highly immersive, life‑size video chat experience that aims to make distant family members feel like they9re in the same room.

The system was first demonstrated in 2021 and has been marketed primarily to enterprise customers (early installations were reported to cost in the tens of thousands). The USO pilot is an exploration of whether Beam9s immersive format can improve emotional connection and communication for military families separated by deployment.

How Beam works and what it offers

• 3D imaging: Captures and renders depth for more natural presence than a flat video call.
• Spatial audio: Places sound to match the perceived location of a speaker, increasing realism.
• Adaptive lighting: Helps match on‑screen subjects to the room environment for a consistent visual feel.

Potential benefits

• Stronger sense of presence can make conversations with loved ones feel more intimate and engaging than standard video chats.
• The shared, in‑center setup could provide a supportive space for difficult conversations or group calls with multiple family members.
• USO centers already act as connection hubs; Beam could amplify that role with a premium communication experience.

Challenges and open questions

• Cost & logistics: Beam systems have been expensive and require dedicated hardware, which may limit rollout scale.
• Bandwidth & infrastructure: High‑quality 3D video demands robust, low‑latency networks — not always available at every location.
• Privacy & consent: Clear policies are needed around recorded data, who can join calls, and how footage or metadata are handled.
• Accessibility: The pilot will need to address how different family circumstances, locations and schedules can access the service equitably.

The pilot follows Google9s previous demonstrations of Beam and reflects broader interest in immersive communications as a way to bridge distance. The USO collaboration focuses on a community that could particularly benefit from improved remote presence: service members and their families separated by deployment.

For official USO information, visit USO.org. For earlier coverage of Beam/Project Starline, see Google9s research announcements and recent reporting.

Discussion: Would a Beam setup at a USO center make a difference for deployed families you know — or are simpler video calls enough? What concerns or features would you want addressed in this pilot?