Design and implementation of a communication support system based on projection of real space on virtual space

Virtual reality is the technology which enables us to feel as if we are in virtual space. On the other hand, mobile computing, which makes use of wireless network technologies, enables us to use computers anywhere in the world. The integration of these two technologies will make it possible for users to communicate with other persons separated at long distance, anywhere and anytime. Based on this idea, we have proposed a system called the invisible person environment. In this environment, events that occur in the real space will immediately be reflected onto virtual space and vice versa. Therefore, the environment gives users a rich communication functionality with so much presence that they may have the illusion that they are meeting in the same space. In this paper, we show our design and implementation of the invisible person system that facilitates the mappings of the real space onto virtual space. In this system, real-time video resources are effectively used to support communications.