FamiLinkTV: expanding the social value of the living room with multiplex imaging technology

Abstract

In this paper, we will be introducing a technological solution enabling the use of multiplex imaging technique on the living room television screen. FamiLinkTV allows all the family members to enjoy an experience that goes far beyond the simple screen sharing together: instead of having different family members watching their own contents in their own rooms, or on separate time slots, FamiLinkTV aims to get people to sit on the same couch at the same time. The sharing of physical space will allow family bonding to take place by acting as a catalyst for social interaction. In order to involve more developers and artists in the search for innovative interaction-enhancing content, we opened the field for content creators by proposing a Unity3D plug-in that enables multiplex imaging on 3D flat panels. Current development allows contents such as games, movies and camera feeds to be displayed on the screen, and be seen independently in real-time, either on the naked eye (main content) or through cheap polarizing glasses (hidden content). The implementation of image hiding is likely to have a great impact on the current multiplex technologies.