Interactive collaborative media environments

Virtual reality (VR) provides a revolutionary interface between man and machine. However, present display and interface peripherals limit the potential of virtual environments within many activities or scenarios. Mainstream immersive VR is centred on head mounted display (HMD) based solutions in which the user is isolated from their surrounding environment. The occlusion of real world interaction within such systems imposes unnatural social and physical constraints on the user. Media environments can be classified as one form of enhanced reality based around immersive physical spaces intensified for effective collaborative activities. Current research is directed at three forms of enhanced spaces — immersive projected displays, interactive video environments, and immersive desktop environments. While HMD and desktop VR facilitates many collaborative tasks, the synthesis of real and virtual realities within a life-size environment offers distinct advantages within other applications. This paper introduces the concepts behind media environments, reviews current research and presents applications being explored at BT Laboratories.