A Porta-Person includes both hardware and software components. The hardware consists of a computer, shown in the form of a removable laptop (right), on a rotating platform. Also on the platform are a video camera, stereo speakers, and stereo microphones. A custom-made stereo echo canceller inside the base of the unit provides excellent sound quality for remote users.
In terms of software, the Porta-Person uses the SunTM Labs Voice Bridge to transmit up to CD-quality, stereo audio. The Face tool software runs on the Porta-Person device and presents either video or animation (see below). When used in virtual environments, a special client is needed for each 3D virtual world.
A separate Panorama application is provided for remote users. For those attending business meetings, this is a platform-independent application written in the JavaTM Programming Language that provides remote-control of the Porta-Person device. For 3D users, a Java 3D version of the panorama can be integrated into the virtual environment.
In 3D virtual worlds, such as MPK20: Sun's Virtual Workplace, a Porta-Person can be used to project a panorama of a physical space into any part of the virtual space.
In 3D worlds aimed at business collaboration, the panorama can be displayed on a wall in a virtual conference room as shown above. This allows the avatars in the virtual conference room to see and talk to people in a physical room. The people in the physical room can see a view into the virtual conference room on the Porta-Person display.
At Sun, about 70% of distributed business meetings involve at least one conference room. Our studies show that remote attendees often feel like second class citizens in these situations.
A Porta-Person provides a much greater sense of presence for remote people than an ordinary speaker phone, or even a standard video conferencing unit. There are several reasons for this. The remote attendees are represented with either live video or a simple animated picture.
If the remote user does not have a video camera, or the bandwidth to transmit video, they can select from a male or female animated illustration. Research shows that animated images are more effective at conveying the remote person's presence than a static image.
The Porta-Person displays rotate on a swivel base, allowing the remote person to face the person in the room who is speaking. The combination of the movement of the display and the audio output associated with it, provides a focal point for the remote person's presence in the room. Since the remote person's audio emanates from this same location, and the audio is of a much higher quality than ordinary speaker phones, it both looks and sounds more like the person is sitting "at the table."
To see inside a conference room, the remote user connects to a specific Porta-Person. This launches the Video Panorama tool. A portion of the video panorama contains live video (shown within the red box below). The remote user moves the camera by dragging the box or clicking on any location within the panorama.
Ideally, we would like to have one Porta-Person in the conference room for every remote person. Limited resources in terms of both space at the table and money for displays does not make this a feasible option. The Panorama tool, therefore, allows multiple remote users to connect to a single Porta-Person. A "Take Control" button allows these users to take turns controlling the camera. As different remote users connected to the same Porta-Person speak, the video or animation on the display in the conference room automatically changes to show the person who is currently speaking.
For details about the use of the Porta-Person in business meetings, see:
