Skype is the main tool that Microsoft offers for video calls to the whole world. The final experience depends on factors like connection quality, the device used, and its built-in camera, but Microsoft Research is working on something that completely surpasses Skype and its technical details. The project is called Room2Room, and what it proposes is to place in front of us a "copy" of the other person, using augmented reality.
After many years and countless previews from science fiction, video calls are here and work relatively well. Most users see instant messaging as a much faster and more efficient option, which in a way makes us think about the future of video calls. While they won’t disappear, it’s clear they still have plenty of room to grow and evolve. What is missing from video calls? According to Microsoft Research, the answer is a good dose of augmented reality.
How Room2Room Works
The project is called Room2Room, and in relaxed terms, it works as follows: A pair of Kinect cameras combined with a digital projector capture a full-size three-dimensional image of a person, and project it onto a piece of furniture like a sofa or a chair. This also works in the other direction, so the result is an augmented reality video call session, without the limitations imposed by traditional screens. A good part of Room2Room depends on advances made with RoomAlive, another similar project that we mentioned at the end of 2014.
Current Limitations
The most important limitations that Room2Room suffers are directly associated with hardware. In other words, it’s still expensive, takes up space, and is difficult to configure properly. There’s also the detail of fidelity in projections. The resolution is still too low to establish basic details, including which way the other person is looking. In summary: We’re probably decades away from seeing a similar system in our living rooms, but we have to start somewhere, and Room2Room is undeniably a step in the right direction.
