TELEPORT—an augmented reality teleconferencing environment

A prototype immersive teleconferencing environment is described that allows small groups of people, although geographically separated, to meet as if face-to-face. The innovative features of the system include the use of wall-sized display surfaces, viewer tracking, subject-background separation by means of computer vision techniques and real-time compositing of live video with synthetic backgrounds. Used in combination, these techniques give the illusion of a virtual meeting area being an extension in space of a real meeting room.