Ebook: Telepresence

Telepresence is enabling human interaction at a distance, creating a sense of being present at a remote location. In the next millennium we are certain to be increasingly `telepresent' both at work and at play, with an expanding market for telepresence services. As we move from a physical to an information economy, demand will grow for services which transport bits not atoms and which support the output of the human mind. Moreover, technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, and it could be suggested that we are reaching key breakpoints in client processing power and global network interconnectivity.
In practice, telepresence systems utilise a very wide range of technologies. In compiling this book the editors have included chapters from across these technologies which they have broadly classified as audio, data, video and virtual environments. Telepresence gives a flavour of the exciting developments in telepresence and teleconferencing technologies being researched and developed within BT.
Just as the telephone began changing the world a century ago, so will telepresence one day alter the way we live, think, do business and react to the world around us. The potential for these technologies is staggering, the implications mind-boggling.
Building on a strong base of established audiovisual conferencing and interactive multimedia services, BT and MCI are leading the way in defining the commercial applications of telepresence that will shape the future of global telecommunication.
Telepresence is a snapshot of these groundbreaking activities and conveys the complexity, uncertainty and enthusiasm involved in this challenging and exciting work. It is essential reading for all researchers, engineers and managers working in this stimulating field.

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Telepresence is enabling human interaction at a distance, creating a sense of being present at a remote location. In the next millennium we are certain to be increasingly `telepresent' both at work and at play, with an expanding market for telepresence services. As we move from a physical to an information economy, demand will grow for services which transport bits not atoms and which support the output of the human mind. Moreover, technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, and it could be suggested that we are reaching key breakpoints in client processing power and global network interconnectivity.
In practice, telepresence systems utilise a very wide range of technologies. In compiling this book the editors have included chapters from across these technologies which they have broadly classified as audio, data, video and virtual environments. Telepresence gives a flavour of the exciting developments in telepresence and teleconferencing technologies being researched and developed within BT.
Just as the telephone began changing the world a century ago, so will telepresence one day alter the way we live, think, do business and react to the world around us. The potential for these technologies is staggering, the implications mind-boggling.
Building on a strong base of established audiovisual conferencing and interactive multimedia services, BT and MCI are leading the way in defining the commercial applications of telepresence that will shape the future of global telecommunication.
Telepresence is a snapshot of these groundbreaking activities and conveys the complexity, uncertainty and enthusiasm involved in this challenging and exciting work. It is essential reading for all researchers, engineers and managers working in this stimulating field.

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Telepresence is enabling human interaction at a distance, creating a sense of being present at a remote location. In the next millennium we are certain to be increasingly `telepresent' both at work and at play, with an expanding market for telepresence services. As we move from a physical to an information economy, demand will grow for services which transport bits not atoms and which support the output of the human mind. Moreover, technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, and it could be suggested that we are reaching key breakpoints in client processing power and global network interconnectivity.
In practice, telepresence systems utilise a very wide range of technologies. In compiling this book the editors have included chapters from across these technologies which they have broadly classified as audio, data, video and virtual environments. Telepresence gives a flavour of the exciting developments in telepresence and teleconferencing technologies being researched and developed within BT.
Just as the telephone began changing the world a century ago, so will telepresence one day alter the way we live, think, do business and react to the world around us. The potential for these technologies is staggering, the implications mind-boggling.
Building on a strong base of established audiovisual conferencing and interactive multimedia services, BT and MCI are leading the way in defining the commercial applications of telepresence that will shape the future of global telecommunication.
Telepresence is a snapshot of these groundbreaking activities and conveys the complexity, uncertainty and enthusiasm involved in this challenging and exciting work. It is essential reading for all researchers, engineers and managers working in this stimulating field.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-x
Telepresence — The Future of Telephony....Pages 1-13
The Evolution of Conferencing....Pages 14-25
Unattended Audioconferencing....Pages 27-39
Spatial Audio Technology for Telepresence....Pages 40-56
Desktop Conversations — The Future of Multimedia Conferencing....Pages 57-73
Conferencing on the Internet....Pages 74-98
Whither Video? Pictorial Culture and Telepresence....Pages 99-141
Video Coding —Techniques, Standards and Applications....Pages 142-169
Evaluating the Network and Usability Characteristics of Virtual Reality Conferencing....Pages 170-207
Virtual Conferencing....Pages 208-225
Interactive Collaborative Media Environments....Pages 227-243
Real People in Surreal Environments....Pages 244-262
Affective Intelligence — The Missing Link?....Pages 263-285
Towards a Multi-Modal Perceptual Model....Pages 286-305
Distributed Entertainment Environment....Pages 306-322
The Application of Telepresence in Medicine....Pages 323-332
Applying Telepresence to Education....Pages 334-349
Concept 2010 — Bt’s New Generation Dealing Desk....Pages 350-366
Back Matter....Pages 367-383

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Telepresence is enabling human interaction at a distance, creating a sense of being present at a remote location. In the next millennium we are certain to be increasingly `telepresent' both at work and at play, with an expanding market for telepresence services. As we move from a physical to an information economy, demand will grow for services which transport bits not atoms and which support the output of the human mind. Moreover, technology continues to advance at an unprecedented rate, and it could be suggested that we are reaching key breakpoints in client processing power and global network interconnectivity.
In practice, telepresence systems utilise a very wide range of technologies. In compiling this book the editors have included chapters from across these technologies which they have broadly classified as audio, data, video and virtual environments. Telepresence gives a flavour of the exciting developments in telepresence and teleconferencing technologies being researched and developed within BT.
Just as the telephone began changing the world a century ago, so will telepresence one day alter the way we live, think, do business and react to the world around us. The potential for these technologies is staggering, the implications mind-boggling.
Building on a strong base of established audiovisual conferencing and interactive multimedia services, BT and MCI are leading the way in defining the commercial applications of telepresence that will shape the future of global telecommunication.
Telepresence is a snapshot of these groundbreaking activities and conveys the complexity, uncertainty and enthusiasm involved in this challenging and exciting work. It is essential reading for all researchers, engineers and managers working in this stimulating field.
Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-x
Telepresence — The Future of Telephony....Pages 1-13
The Evolution of Conferencing....Pages 14-25
Unattended Audioconferencing....Pages 27-39
Spatial Audio Technology for Telepresence....Pages 40-56
Desktop Conversations — The Future of Multimedia Conferencing....Pages 57-73
Conferencing on the Internet....Pages 74-98
Whither Video? Pictorial Culture and Telepresence....Pages 99-141
Video Coding —Techniques, Standards and Applications....Pages 142-169
Evaluating the Network and Usability Characteristics of Virtual Reality Conferencing....Pages 170-207
Virtual Conferencing....Pages 208-225
Interactive Collaborative Media Environments....Pages 227-243
Real People in Surreal Environments....Pages 244-262
Affective Intelligence — The Missing Link?....Pages 263-285
Towards a Multi-Modal Perceptual Model....Pages 286-305
Distributed Entertainment Environment....Pages 306-322
The Application of Telepresence in Medicine....Pages 323-332
Applying Telepresence to Education....Pages 334-349
Concept 2010 — Bt’s New Generation Dealing Desk....Pages 350-366
Back Matter....Pages 367-383
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