Basic Design of Video Communication System Enabling Users to Move Around in Shared Space

Keiji HIRATA; Yasunori HARADA; Toshihiro TAKADA; Naomi YAMASHITA; Shigemi AOYAGI; Yoshinari SHIRAI; Katsuhiko KAJI; Junji YAMATO; Kenji NAKAZAWA

doi:10.1587/transele.E92.C.1387

Special Section on Electronic Displays

Basic Design of Video Communication System Enabling Users to Move Around in Shared Space

Keiji HIRATA, Yasunori HARADA, Toshihiro TAKADA, Naomi YAMASHITA, Shigemi AOYAGI, Yoshinari SHIRAI, Katsuhiko KAJI, Junji YAMATO, Kenji NAKAZAWA

Author information

Keiji HIRATA
NTT Communication Science Laboratories, NTT Corporation
Yasunori HARADA
NTT Communication Science Laboratories, NTT Corporation
Toshihiro TAKADA
NTT Communication Science Laboratories, NTT Corporation
Naomi YAMASHITA
NTT Communication Science Laboratories, NTT Corporation
Shigemi AOYAGI
NTT Communication Science Laboratories, NTT Corporation
Yoshinari SHIRAI
NTT Communication Science Laboratories, NTT Corporation
Katsuhiko KAJI
NTT Communication Science Laboratories, NTT Corporation
Junji YAMATO
NTT Communication Science Laboratories, NTT Corporation
Kenji NAKAZAWA
NTT Communication Science Laboratories, NTT Corporation

Keywords: face-to-face interaction, spatial cue, surrounding back screen method, sharedness, exclusiveness, t-Room

JOURNAL RESTRICTED ACCESS

2009 Volume E92.C Issue 11 Pages 1387-1395

DOI https://doi.org/10.1587/transele.E92.C.1387

Details

Abstract

We propose a 2D display and camera arrangement for video communication systems that supports both spatial information between distant sites and user mobility. The implementation of this arrangement is called the “surrounding back screen method.” The method enables users to freely come from and go into other users' spaces and provides every user with the direct pointing capability, since there is no apparent spatial barrier separating users, unlike the case of conventional video communication systems. In this paper, we introduce two properties (“sharedness” and “exclusiveness”) and three parameters (a distance and two angles) to represent the geometrical relationship between two users. These properties and parameters are used to classify the shared spaces created by a video communication system and to investigate the surrounding back screen method. Furthermore, to demonstrate and explore our surrounding back screen method, we have developed a prototype system, called t-Room. Taking into account practical situations, we studied a practical case where two t-Rooms with different layouts are connected.

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