Virtual meeting in cyberstage

Abstract

Today's technology and advances in networking and telecommunications stimulate a change in the way business is carried out, making it a globally distributed process, in which communication and collaboration of geographically dispersed groups is of vital importance. Virtual Reality systems are adapting accordingly, by providing not only a better man-machine interface, but also by facilitating human to human interaction and collaboration over distance. The approach presented in this paper, creates an environment where remote participants not only meet as if face to face, but also share the same virtual space and perform common tasks. Live stereo-video and audio, from a projectionbased VR system are transmitted and integrated into the virtual space of another participant at a distant VR system, allowing geographically separated groups to meet in a common virtual space, while maintaining eyecontact, gaze awareness and body language. The scientific approach involves stereo-camera calibration and rectification, and use of the camera parameters for integrating the stereovideo into a virtual environment, while maintaining the stereo-effect and correct perspective for each participant. A prototype environment in CyberStage, is also presented in detail in this paper.