Introduction - 3DTV: Processing and Transmission of 3D Video Signals - page 31

European DVB broadcasts, or frame sequential service compatible format (see
Section 1.2). Problems with 3D VoD are likely to arise, when more views are
required to support multi-view displays, which is clearly more demanding
in terms of network bandwidth requirements. These transmission issues are
discussed in more detail in Section 4.3.2.

1.3.4 3DImmersiveVideo-Conferencing
A number of companies have already produced high-end video-conferencing
facilities, which attempt to provide greater sense of the remote participants
being in the same room. Hewlett Packard and Cisco are two of the main
proponents of such high-end facilities. Both companies offer systems that
exploit High Definition video-conferencing, rendered on multiple large
screens. Cicso's Telepresence 3000 system is shown in Figure 1.13, which
demonstrates the basic configuration of such high end systems. People within
the room are made to feel that the remote participants are present in the
same room.
The introduction of 3D to such high-end video-conferencing systems
would seem like a natural step forward in terms of immersion. However,
there are some issues that currently limit the effectiveness of 3D for video-
conferencing. These issues become apparent when we consider the currently
available 3D display technology:

• Passive or active stereo displays - require that glasses are used. This may

cause problems for participants to interact effectively, as it may inhibit eye
contact with remote meeting participants.

• Auto-stereoscopic displays - typically feature sweet spots. Although some

displays can be created with multiple sweet spots, viewers movement is

Figure 1.13 Cisco's Telepresence 3000 system, featuring high definition
video-conferencing (Courtesy of Cisco Systems Inc.)