TeleHuman device provides Star Trek-like 3D
System uses Microsoft’s Kinect
sensors, off-the-shelf hardware to achieve cutting edge
A group of researchers at the Human Media Lab at
Queen’s University (Ontario) have created a life-sized
hologram-like telepod using Microsoft’s Kinect system and
a cylindrical display for live, 3D videoconferencing.
The Human Media Lab has come up with a
unique way to create a 3D holographic videoconferencing
They refer to the technology as
“TeleHuman”: it allows two people to stand in
front of their own separate pods and talk to 3D hologram images of
How’d they do it?
The group was able to accomplish this trick
using six Kinect sensors mounted at the top of both displays. The
sensors are responsible for capturing and tracking 3D video of the
individual and converting it into a life-size image on the opposite
end of the call.
The 3D image that gets displayed is 360 around
the pod. This means that the person on the other line can walk
around the entire pod and see the caller’s side and
“Why Skype when you can talk to a
life-size 3D holographic image of another person?” asks
Professor Roel Vertegaal, director of the Human Media Lab.
The TeleHuman system was constructed with
existing hardware. There are the aforementioned Kinect sensors, but
to actually project the image, the team positioned a 3D projector
at the base of a 5-ft 9-in. (1.8 m) translucent acrylic cylinder,
complete with convex mirror.
The team also used the pod in another
application of their project called “BodiPod”.
It’s similar to TeleHuman in that it projects a 3D image
of a human body, but what this system does instead is it offers the
user the ability to interact with a 3D anatomical model of the
human body; that is, through a series of gestures and speech
control, the human body can be peeled away, layer by layer, and
explored 360 degrees.
Doing this is remarkably simple: The user just
approaches the pod and waves a hand, or otherwise gives the system
an auditory command, to peel away layers of human tissue.
BodiPod’s labeling app.
BodiPod’s layer peeling
BodiPod’s deep layer peeling
Why this is noteworthy
3D holographic video is certainly not a new
technology: Cisco and Musion systems created an on-stage
holographic video conference over 5 years ago, and there is, of
course, last month’s much-hyped holographic performance
of deceased rapper 2Pac at the Coachella music festival.
Rapper Snoop Dogg performs alongside 3D
hologram of deceased rapper 2Pac at Coachella.
What’s unique about the TeleHuman
system is how easily accessible it is: It was created using a video
game system and some off-the-shelf hardware. Check out the
team’s video on the project:
Want to learn more?
Dr. Vertegaal will unveil the TeleHuman and
BodiPod systems at CHI 2012, an international conference on
human-computer interaction in Austin, TX, May 5 to 10.
Download the team’s papers for free
Story via: Human Media Lab