2021 Volume 9 Issue 1 Pages 105-112
Online video communication systems are widely used among users between remote locations, but the communication quality is still inferior to face-to-face communication. To enhance the quality of video communication systems, it is necessary to provide a sense of presence of the users at a high level and to realize eye contact for better non-verbal communication. The technologies that realize virtual image projection and frontal image capture are promising for such purposes. However, conventional systems require bulky display screens. Thus, we proposed a thinner system using a holographic optical element (HOE), which was utilized as a transparent off-axis mirror and helped increase the flexibility of the system configuration, thus reducing the depth of the space in front. To verify the feasibility of the proposed system, we established a proof-of-concept system with dispersion compensation optics and a full-color HOE, and the system simultaneously realized virtual image projection and frontal image capture.
