3D Video Conferencing via On-Hand Devices

Abstract

Video conferencing has become indispensable in human communication. Researchers are exploring immersive capabilities to enhance video conferencing experiences by delivering realistic interactions. However, existing methods have stringent and extra hardware beyond a typical video conference, including multiple depth cameras, large screens, and headsets, which pose obstacles to the widespread adoption due to high costs and complex setups. Thus, there is an urgent demand for light-weight systems using only on-hand devices including single RGB camera and standard screen, without additional hardware. We propose DVCO, a novel 3D video conferencing system via on-hand devices. With DVCO, users can experience lifelike virtual conferencing that includes natural contact and interactive features. To achieve this, DVCO has two main components. Virtual Camera Transformation (VCT) and New View Generator (NVG). VCT computes a downscaled sender image from tracking to determine viewpoint and gaze vector, enhancing virtual presence on standard screens. NVG takes an input frame and desired view angle to produce an output reflecting the new view from a single RGB camera. Together, these provide an affordable, easy-to-integrate enhancement for current video conferencing systems without expensive upgrades. Through a user study, it has been demonstrated that DVCO offers an exceptional level of immersion when compared to traditional systems. Experiments are conducted to showcase the superior performance of VCT and NVG in comparison to baseline methods.