FocalSpace : enhancing users' focus on foreground through diminishing the background

In this document we introduce FocalSpace, a video conferencing system that helps users focus on the foreground by diminishing the background through synthetic blur effects. The system can dynamically recognize the relevant and important activities and objects through depth sensors and various cues such as voices, gestures, proximity to drawing surfaces, and physical markers. FocalSpace can help direct remote participants' focus, save transmission bandwidth, remove irrelevant pixels, protect privacy, and conserve display space for augmented content. The key of this research lies in augmenting user experience through diminishing irrelevant information, based on the philosophy of "less is more." In short, we use DR (Diminished Reality) to improve communication. Based on our philosophy of "less is more", we describe some design concepts and applications beyond the video conferencing system. We explain how the approach of "AR through DR" can be utilized in driving, and sport-watching experiences. In this document, we detail the system design for FocalSpace, a 3-D tracking and localization technology used. We also discuss some initial user observations and suggest further directions.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Architecture. Program in Media Arts and Sciences.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Yao, Lining

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Hiroshi Ishii.

• Architecture. Program in Media Arts and Sciences.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/76534

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/76534