Blue-c: A Spatially Immersive Display and 3D Video Portal

Abstract

We present the blue-c, a new generation immersive projection and 3D video acquisition environment for telepresence and collaboration. It combines simultaneous acquisition of multiple life video streams with advanced 3D projection technology in a CAVE<sup>TM</sup>-like environment creating the impression of total immersion. The blue-c portal currently consists of three rectangular projection screens which are built from glass panels containing liquid crystal layers. These screens can be switched from a whitish opaque state to a transparent state allowing the video cameras to "look through the walls". Our projection technology is based on active stereo using two LCD projectors per screen. The projectors are synchronously shuttered along with the screens, the stereo glasses, active illumination devices, and the acquisition hardware. From multiple video streams, we compute a 3D video representation of the user in real-time. The thus created video inlays can be transmitted progressively through networked virtual environments.