Google’s Project Starline “Magic Window” 3D Videoconferencing Rig

Google and HP just announced its commercialization. I gave it a spin at TED.

It uses a high-res lenticular screen to render a 3D view of the other side. The compute required to do this in real time is the fundamental advance here. It uses six standard cameras mounted for triangulation.

So, I had to explore the limits. The registration is good; eye contact is aligned and you can reach out and "air-grab" an object held out by the person on the other side.

I found one freaky artifact: it does not work if you put your hands in front of your face, and it’s can’t see into the back of your mouth. So if you open your mouth wide, the back of your mouth shimmers like that scene in the Matrix.