TelePort: Virtual touring of Dun-Huang with a mobile device

Some of our daily encountering is the objects of pictures, antiques, sculptures or wall-paintings captured or moved from the source space to another media platform. For example, the Direct Mail advertising of house sale, the historical exhibit in the museum. In fact, few figures or text descriptions will never be able to provide us the rewarding experience unless people can actually visit the source space in person. Inspired by the Boo's doors in the Disney's cartoon of Monsters Inc. which are used as a pathway to different spaces, we propose the “TelePort” as a gateway providing a virtual touring to the source space and achieve the prototype using a mobile device. To begin the TelePort, users first aim the object onto the mobile's screen. Subsequently, the screen view will immediately transfer to the view of the source space seamlessly as if users look into the space from the entrance gate. After transferring to the space, users can explore the source space and interact with the contents belonged to the space in reality through panorama visualization. To support the first person navigation, the viewpoint direction within the space can be detected by the mobile pose. This novel navigation interface can deliver to users an interesting and realistic experience as teleportation. Our contribution is to demonstrate an innovative experience for a virtual tour of the Mogao Caves using a mobile device. The “Teleport” featuring the virtual gateway which brings users to the Cave not only attracts attention but also enhances the experience of space exploring.