3D Videoconferencing Over Internet2

An Anonymous Coward sent in: "Dallas Morning News reports that the Governor of Texas beamed in via "teleportation" through the Internet 2 to a group of business leaders in Richardson, while he was in Austin, Texas. Amazing.. This seems so star trek as opposed to reality. His 3d image stood before the business leaders in demonstration of the new technology by Teleportec." Apparently the company is calling this "teleportation", which seems like a misnomer to me, but it's still neat.

Comments

Holoportation ... this is way cool

[ACK!!]

Someone else called it Holoportation. I like the term but until they can get costs down its just a fun toy. This, however, has the potential of eliminating the need for business leaders to shuttle off to another city for a one day one shot meeting. This is one of the few neato toys that I have seen lately that has real true business potential.

Teleportec Website

[Julius X]

Since no one has posted it yet....this could be useful.

http://www.teleportec.com/

They've got flash and nonflash versions...Let's hope they can handle being Slashdotted!

-Julius X

Re:Teleportec Website

[gargle]

Their website doesn't say anything about holography or transmitting a "3d image". It sounds like what it does is transmit a lifesized 2d image.

Equivalent to Alexander Graham Bell?

[RovingSlug]

From the article:

It was a moment, Mr. Perry indicated, as significant as Alexander Graham Bell's first phone call to Thomas Watson.

But "this technology, I happen to think, will have an even greater effect on the citizens of the world than what Mr. Bell came up with," he said.

I am so entirely sick of this extreme chest-puffing and disrespect of actual culture-changing inventions. No, 3D video conferencing is not even close to the advent of the telephone. Acquire and apply some humility.

The telephone gave for the first time real-time two-way communication. 3D video conferencing adds nothing to that essence except a pretty picture. It's still real-time, and it's still communication. Being able to see the other party's postures and gestures is only a marginal improvement, not an earth-shattering achievement.

Growl.

telepresence, not teleportation

[LinuxParanoid]

A better term is "telepresence", not "teleportation".

--LP

Re:hmm ...

[Kafka_Canada]

It's neat, but at $70,000 a shot, that would pay for an awful lot of plane tickets for the guy to be actually there (as opposed to virtually there).

missing the point... the idea is that it's better in some circumstances to zoom over at the speed of I2, and get back home as soon as the visit's over. picture going to a friend in australia, then going for a quick visit to your cousins in Greece, then making a five way business call, then checking out some paintings in the Louvre, then taking a shower and having breakfast at your place.
and of course the $70k pricetag will diminish, as with any new technology, so no need to get upset!

what you pay for a cable or dsl internet hook-up, would pay for a TON of postage, but there are still reasons for getting a net connection.

Link to more information

[quokka70]

For something similar sounding (but apparently different), check out this article in the April Scientific American.

Cheers, quokka