Video-conference Large-size display Immersive-type remote collaboration environment

Future Phone: t-RoomNTT Communication Science Laboratories
Even with the availability of video conferencing systems, there still seem to be occasions where there is no substitute fordirect face-to-face discussions. Conventional video conferencing systems have aimed to create a strong feeling of presence byemploying high-quality audio and video and virtual reality technology. However, conventional systems do not fully recreate theinteractions that naturally take place between people who are gathered in the same room.
For example, if person A sees person B from a diagonal perspective, then person B should see person A from a diagonal
perspective. The apparent distance of person A from person B should also match the apparent distance of person B fromperson A. If person A moves, then the apparent direction and distance of person A from person B should change, and viceversa. Their positional relationship should also be immediately apparent to a third person C who is viewing them from the side.
These things that people take for granted when they are all in the same room are not conveyed by conventional videoconferencing systems. At NTT Laboratories, we have developed a video conferencing system called “t-Room” that creates thefeeling of being in the same room as users who are separated spatially and even temporally.
We demonstrated this system at the NTT Communication Science Laboratories Open House 2005 back in June, and many
visitors were highly impressed by the feeling of being in the same room. In December we launched the official “t-Room” website
at (www.mirainodenwa.com). This site is packed with all sorts of information, including a description of the technology behind “tRoom” and an 11-minute demonstration video. To convey a feeling of being in the same room when people are present atdifferent times, “t-Room” allows an earlier conference to be recorded and played back during a later conference. This later
conference can itself be recorded and played back during another conference in the future. This playback feature plays a rolesimilar to that of quoted text in emails. You are invited to take a look at the demonstration video.
At NTT Laboratories, we are considering “t-Room” as a future form of telephone service. Based on this technology, it will bepossible to provide a wide variety of communication services, establish connections even to mobile phones and PCs, and allow
people to communicate with each other. There are endless possibilities for this technology.

The “t-Room” configuration and layout of the demonstration system
Identical systems are installed in remote locations and networked together

Kyoto

Room interior is imaged by cameras and transmitted to the remote location
MicrophoneAtsugi
Display b

Audio server

Camera a

Camera a
Display b

Audio server
SpeakerVideo serverVideo server

Side view

The hardware configuration of “ t-Room”Top view

Arrangement of displays, cameras, speakers and microphones

Users can add their bit to previous collaborative discussions
Previous video played back

Recording superimposed on video of previous meeting

A few days later

I’m in a hurry so pleasefast-forward this bit
Joining in on aUser A
previous meeting

User B

Let’s hear thoseviews again

User A

Joining in on a previous meetingin which user A participatedDemonstrating the system

Participating in meetings across time differences

H-CT-3copyright（C）2006NTT