Google's Project Starline is a 'magic window' for 3D telepresence

The future of immersive video chat might not require a headset. Google showed off Project Starline, which uses a combination of specialized hardware and computer vision technology to create a "magic window" that can beam a life-sized, 3D image of the person you're chatting with into a special display that makes it appear as if they're sitting in front of you. "To make this experience possible, we are applying research in computer vision, machine learning, spatial audio and real-time compression," Google's Clay Bavor wrote in a blog post. "We've also developed a breakthrough light field display system that creates a sense of volume and depth that can be experienced without the need for additional glasses or headsets." For now, it appears Starline requires a fairly elaborate setup.