Logitech is Working on a Project Starline-like Video Chat Booth

An anonymous reader shares a report: Logitech, perhaps known best for its personal computer accessories like the webcam I have used for nearly every workday for three years, is revealing an ambitious new prototype on Tuesday: an elaborately designed video chat booth it calls "Project Ghost" that's designed to be a better space to have virtual conversations. I understand if that description might make you think of Google's Project Starline, another conceptual video chat booth. When Logitech first told me about Project Ghost, that's where my mind went. And the core idea is similar: you'll be able to sit in a booth and talk to a lifelike projection of another person who is in another place in a way that approximates an in-person conversation.

But unlike Project Starline, which relies on an elaborate array of sensors and cameras to create a hologram-like projection, Project Ghost uses videoconferencing technology Logitech already sells, pulls a trick like what you might know from a teleprompter to create the projection, and packs that all into a booth designed by office furniture maker Steelcase to create a potentially more comfortable experience for conversations. No word on the pricing, but apparently it won't be less than $2,000 for sure.

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[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

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[nonBORG]

There is a difference between invention and discovery.

handshake

[bugs2squash]

When do we get the handshake machine in times square

Pepper's Ghost?

[transformania]

"Project Ghost uses videoconferencing technology Logitech already sells, pulls a trick like what you might know from a teleprompter to create the projection" This means all you get is the same, 2d flat webcam image of the other person, but semi-transparent and "floating" in the air. Some people will likely think it's cool, but I want something at least stereoscopic if not pseudo-volumetric, which is what I think Starline does, via heavy processing. Sounds like HP Halo, but with the ghost trick.

2001

[AntronArgaiv]

I'm disappointed that it's not more like the Bell System Picturephone booth from 2001: A Space Odyssey.

Introvert's nightmare

[DigitalSorceress]

So yeah I remember as a kid watching the Jetsons and thinking how cool video phones would be - how futuristic.. and now that we have that tech in our pockets.. hell, I don't even like to answer the phone anymore - between all the robocalls / spam and also just not wanting to people.. I usually prefer a text to a call and .. video?

Not unless it's something where the video interaction actually adds to the utility / experience...

As annoying as meetings are, video meetings are way better than dragging there in

Best known for ruining products

[drinkypoo]

The trackman wheel I have now is a total POS compared to the old one

Best known for mice and keyboards.

[Fly Swatter]

Webcams? Someone was born yesterday.

For what purpose?

[smooth wombat]

I'm trying to think of a legitimate reason to have this. Between people working from home and using the web cam to interact, to companies having conference rooms with more high end telepresence, what would be the purpose of having this small box to sit in compared to the other two options?

Maybe, if you're on vacation and want to talk to one of your friends (some people do have friends I've been told) about what a great time you're having, then something like that, but otherwise there doesn't seem to be a market for people to buy this cage and sit in it just to make a call.

Marketing folks, can you elaborate?

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[PPH]

Maybe it's like a phone booth. Someplace you can sit and make a call with a modicum of privacy. Instead of sitting in the middle of a coffee shop and disturbing all the surrounding patrons with some inane video chat. But seeing as how most people have their own devices, I don't see Logitech's angle in this. Just borrow their booth, whip out your own phone and make a call. But as a small booth, it would seem to be closer to Honey Bucket's market.

On the other hand, a booth could revive the use of tart cards.

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[test321]

I think it's for a shared offices, like they have "acoustic office booths" or "privacy pods", but a specialized one for video calls.

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[iisan7]

IANA Marketer, but I would love to have one of these if it could be shipped in a suitcase and easily set up in flexible locations. My use case would be guest lectures. There was a conference paper that found students responded favorably to a life size projection (DOI: 10.5772/intechopen.85528). That system is relatively cheap, but the other obstacles (need a studio, don't wear black, etc) are just too much to expect to work smoothly, but someday I would love to be able to ship this around in a suitcase to c

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[nonBORG]

I am guessing that they believe most cooperates would install a few of these in their offices so they can have some good sales. Probably you will simply turn off the extra features and just use it to stop your co-workers being annoyed by you meeting at your desk on a video conference. Probably marketed as increasing your meeting room utilization by stopping a single person sitting in a 15 person meeting room on video conference.

Cone of Silence

[awwshit]

A Cone of Silence with Remoting.

Gee I can't wait to sit in a booth with some other people to have a video chat. All so I can get a better or maybe just different view of you?

Solution looking for a problem

[Sir Holo]

Humans adapted to voice-only communication decades ago. And while video chat is fine, a full simulation of the other person having a verbal conversation with you is a bit over-the-top. Unnecessary.

Stop me if you're old enough to have seen this

[whitroth]

before. Let's see, so Clark Kent has a scoop, and rushes to the phone booth with a wooden door, um, sorry, the video chat booth with polarized sides.....