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Video Chat Via Transparent Desktop Overlay

Posted by michael on from the dance-for-me dept.

Jason0x21 writes "Wired News has an article about UNC Comp. Sci. researchers developing a transparent desktop overlay for video conferencing, allowing remote coworkers to literally point and interact with things on your screen. The researchers say that Apple's Quartz graphics engine let them go from idea to prototype in 'about 45 minutes'. Windows versions predicted in the future."

9 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Where are the screenshots? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Or since its on a Mac, the screen movies!!

  2. ...sgub emos llits s'erehT by pyrrhonist · · Score: 4, Funny
    allowing remote coworkers to literally point and interact with things on your screen.

    !siht ekil skool gnihtyreve weiv fo tniop rieht morf ,yletanutrofnU

    --
    Show me on the doll where his noodly appendage touched you.
  3. I once.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny
    Instant millionare basic idea.. kinda like the paper clip :)
    I once had this great idea. It was a "Jump to Conclusions Mat". See it was this mat that had different conclusions too "jump" to.
  4. Re:Similar piece of tech... by TastyWords · · Score: 4, Funny

    The Windows version will be done three months from now. Then Guido, dispatched from the Microsoft office will pay you a "visit" to sell it to them "or else".

  5. Heaven Forbid! by ThePDW · · Score: 5, Funny

    Heaven forbid that people should actually have to talk to each other face to face!

  6. Re:Similar piece of tech... by ziggy_zero · · Score: 3, Funny

    I dunno, a friend of mine says he used one at his office to play Counter Strike pretty well. All he had to do what put his finger on other players' heads and BAM!

    --
    I belong to the ______ generation.
  7. Hmm... by el_flynn · · Score: 5, Funny

    One possible feature for them to implement: one party can "flip the bird" to restart the whole session (as opposed to ALT-F4 or CTRL-C or whatever), thus giving new meaning to "Giving your co-worker the finger" for bad suggestions.

    --
    The Wknd Sessions - Malaysian and South East Asia independent music
  8. Re:Talk about an uber-trojan by value_added · · Score: 2, Funny

    I think the trojan concept is limiting the possibilities of this. Imagine:

    1. Your boss's face stares back at you your entire time at work and you can't determine whether the image is live or pre-recorded.

    2. You browse a porn site and instead of popup ads, you get a Real Live Operator offering a different sort of popups.

    3. You get 0Wn3d but don't feel so threatened after seeing the pimpled face of 14-year old.

    4. Instead of visiting a religeous site and using your web browser to submit prayers in a text box, you can have a live confessional with Father John (or if you're a Protestant, you can opt for Charleton Heston with a full beard).

    What I wonder, though, is whether the system would implode if the people at both ends held up a mirror to the screen.

  9. Re:Similar piece of tech... by mrroach · · Score: 2, Funny

    The BDFL is working for Microsoft?!? NO!!!!

    (You mean there are other Guidos?)