Google Partners With Lowe's For New DIY Tools

Google parent Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) has partnered with home improvement retailer Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) to debut a new mapping technology that will make home makeovers faster and easier.

The two say the technology will be ready and available by this summer, the same time that Lenovo Group Limited (ADR) (OTC: LNVGY) has said it will put the first 3D smartphone on the shelves.

Project Tango

Google has developed a 3D mapping technology, dubbed Project Tango, that uses depth sensors in order to recreate indoor spaces, and Lowe's is the first firm to take advantage of the tech giant's efforts.

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Lowe's customers will be able to use the 3D map to see whether specific items from Lowe's would fit within a particular space or room before ordering them online or having them delivered. The two say it will do away with the hassle of having to input a room's dimensions and measuring out whether furniture and appliances will fit. The mapping capabilities will also give consumers a good idea of how the item will look within the room without much effort.

Lowe's Embraces 3D

This is not Lowe's first attempt at incorporating technology to make customer experiences better – the firm has already introduced an augmented reality holoroom that allows customers to build 3D models of rooms they are thinking about creating.

The holoroom was also the result of a partnership; Lowe's used Google Cardboard and Facebook Inc (NASDAQ: FB)'s Oculus Rift in order to create the experience.

Looking For Partners

Project Tango could have a variety of other uses, according to Google execs, and the company is looking for more interested firms to partner with. Eric Johnson from Project Tango said he is hoping that more businesses will take an interest in what the project has to offer and invest some time developing apps that will utilize the technology.

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