ClearSpace: Mixed reality virtual teamrooms

Abstract

We describe ClearSpace, a tool for collaboration between distributed teamrooms that combines components of virtual worlds and mixed presence groupware. This prototype is a starting point for exploring solutions to display and presence disparity by leveraging model-based user representations. We describe our deployed system and a mirroring approach that solves several problems with scaling up ClearBoard style portals to a common virtual space. We also describe techniques for enforcing consistency between heterogeneous virtual and physical contexts through system-managed awareness. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.