Google's Project Stream wants to stream Assassin's Creed in your browser

Streaming media is nothing special on today’s browsers. We all expect to be able to stream hours of music and video — but not much else — through our browsers at the drop of a hat. The dreaded buffering circles are just a part and parcel of this experience.

Google wants to change that perception of what we are able to stream, from simple media to apps and now to even full AAA video games with Project Stream.

Project Stream is a technical test by Google which aims to relieve some of the largest challenges of streaming, including latency and buffer times

“The idea of streaming such graphically-rich content that requires near-instant interaction between the game controller and the graphics on the screen poses a number of challenges.” Google’s Catherine Hsiao said,  “When streaming TV or movies, consumers are comfortable with a few seconds of buffering at the start, but streaming high-quality games requires latency measured in milliseconds, with no graphic degradation. ”

Google has a limited number of spaces available for project Stream, so prospective testers need to apply quickly. It’s limited to users 17 and over who live in the United States.

The Silicon Valley firm has long since been interested in streaming of apps with Instant Apps on Android phones and tablets. For its interest in media, one needs only to look a the YouTube brand. With Project Stream, that takes it to a whole new level.  Presumably, Google will use the input it gleans from Stream and trickle down knowledge to other, more immediately available technologies like music, video, and even apps.