Web-Based Telepresence System Using Omni-directional Video Streams

PCM 2004 : Pacific Rim Conference on Multimedia , Nov 30-Dec 3, 2004 , Tokyo, JapanRecently, the telepresence which allows us to experience a remote site through a virtualized real world has been investigated. We have already proposed telepresence systems using omni-directional images which enable the user to look around a virtualized dynamic real scene. The system gives the feeling of high presence to the user. However, conventional systems are not networked but are implemented as stand-alone systems that use immersive displays. In this paper we propose a networked telepresence system which enables the user to see a virtualized real world easily in network environments. This paper describes the system implementation using real-time and stored omni-directional video streams as well as its experiments