Levitar: Real Space Interaction through Mid-Air CG Avatar

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a system for using computer graphic (CG) avatars to re-design human-to-human interactions in real space. Virtual reality (VR) social networks enable users to interact with each other through CG avatars and to choose their appearances freely. However, this is only possible in VR space. We propose a system that takes the avatar from VR space to real space with the help of mid-air imaging technology. The video captured from the mid-air image position is presented to the user via a head-mounted display. Our technical contribution is the design of a mid-air stereo camera in which the gaze direction is synchronized with the user’s head movements. A simple mechanism that rotates the mirror and the camera independently enables a complex horizontal and vertical gaze control of the mid-air stereo camera.