Cisco Systems boss John Chambers demonstrated for the first time to the world on Tuesday that the technology no longer is the stuff of Holly...
Cisco Systems boss John Chambers demonstrated for the first time to the world on Tuesday that the technology no longer is the stuff of Hollywood fantasy. And his whiz kids in San Jose, California, beamed down to Bangalore and standing next to Chambers — told him that in a couple of years, the technology will become affordable enough for you to enable your grandpa and grandma in a remote hometown to visit your place in the same fashion.
“We can see each other as though we can play poker,” Chambers told the audience of journalists, who had come from all parts of the world — Latin America, Canada, Europe, Africa and the Far East.
“No sense of smell yet,” he added with a laugh. That apart, the only thing that distinguished Chambers from his two executives, Marthin De-Beer and Chuck Stucki, was a little blurring of the images, especially at the edges. There was also a minor lag in the conversational responses, entirely understandable considering De-Beer and Stucki were in California.
Cisco isn’t telling the details of the technology yet. But it basically involves high definition video projection systems, Cisco’s networking expertise and a special foil through which the images are passed through. The technology can potentially be used for meetings, product demonstrations and a whole host of other activities. And by reducing the need for travel, it can reduce drastically the world’s carbon footprint.
Stucki even catches a ball that is thrown to him and he in turn throws it towards the audience. “We haven’t created a way to get the ball to the audience,” Chambers joked. The way technology is going though, that may not be a joke for long.
l You see, you speak to him, but he is actually miles away
l 3-dimensional telepresence creates the perception of a person’s presence
l It projects a 3-D hologram or replica of the person you are communicating with
“We can see each other as though we can play poker,” Chambers told the audience of journalists, who had come from all parts of the world — Latin America, Canada, Europe, Africa and the Far East.
“No sense of smell yet,” he added with a laugh. That apart, the only thing that distinguished Chambers from his two executives, Marthin De-Beer and Chuck Stucki, was a little blurring of the images, especially at the edges. There was also a minor lag in the conversational responses, entirely understandable considering De-Beer and Stucki were in California.
Cisco isn’t telling the details of the technology yet. But it basically involves high definition video projection systems, Cisco’s networking expertise and a special foil through which the images are passed through. The technology can potentially be used for meetings, product demonstrations and a whole host of other activities. And by reducing the need for travel, it can reduce drastically the world’s carbon footprint.
Stucki even catches a ball that is thrown to him and he in turn throws it towards the audience. “We haven’t created a way to get the ball to the audience,” Chambers joked. The way technology is going though, that may not be a joke for long.
l You see, you speak to him, but he is actually miles away
l 3-dimensional telepresence creates the perception of a person’s presence
l It projects a 3-D hologram or replica of the person you are communicating with
COMMENTS