Many ‘Media spaces’ have taken the form of always-on video conferences between selected remote locations. However, users may still perceive a sense of separation because they see each other through wide-angle views captured by cameras mounted at a distance from them.
Passages allows passers-by to “touch” the silhouettes of their remote counterparts.
A translucent surface, made of glass and textile is set in two different locations connected with each other via a network. As a passer-by walks in front of this surface, the contour of his/her silhouette is reflected in a style that evokes drawing or sketching.
This silhouette uncovers what is happening at the other location, possibly the silhouette of another person standing there. As the local participant moves, more of the remote scene is exposed.
A specially designed computer vision system enables interaction at a very short distance to the screen surface, to the point that passers-by can actually touch it. This system maintains a near-perfect registration of the participants’ bodies to their silhouettes no matter how close they are to the surface.