Video Communication Environment Supporting Group Discussion between Separate Sites

支持不同站点之间小组讨论的视频通信环境

基本信息

批准号：
18500717
负责人：
SASAKI Yuka
金额：
$ 2.53万
依托单位：
Mie Prefectural College of Nursing
依托单位国家：
日本
项目类别：
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
财政年份：
2006
资助国家：
日本
起止时间：
2006 至 2007
项目状态：
已结题

项目摘要

When a group is divided in separate places, holding a lively discussion through a teleconference system is difficult. The aim of this research is to determine a suitable video communication environment and develop a system supporting free conversation among participants, regardless of whether a speaker and a respective interlocutor share the same room or not.Some three-member groups were asked to use a conventional system with several different camera views and to give their preferences. It was suggested that it was important not only that one could watch speaker' s facial expression and have eye contacts with someone on the screen, but that one could also watch non-speakers' facial expressions and interactions among the people on the remote site. However, it is difficult to provide many video pictures including full faces of every participant and an overall view. Also, using several cameras and moving them can be very distractive to users.A prototype of a new teleconference system using an omni-directional camera was developed, evaluated and improved. The camera is equipped with a hemispherical lens with all-round view which provides a ringed circle image. In the first version, a panorama image was made from a ringed circle image. A long shot image taken by a uni-directional camera was also given. In the second version, the uni-directional camera was programmed to focus and zoom on a speaker. In the last version, a high-definition omni-directional camera was employed to provide a high-definition image of full faces. Up to 8 persons can attend the discussion in one place.The system was tested in mental healthcare group counseling. Participants sitting at a round table could talk with each other and with the remote instructor without feeling disturbed. The instructor could also analyze facial expressions, behaviors and interactions of the participants. Usefulness and usability of the system was verified.

当一个小组被分散在不同的地方时，通过电话会议系统进行热烈的讨论是很困难的。本研究的目的是确定一个合适的视频通信环境，并开发一个支持参与者之间自由对话的系统，无论发言者和各自的对话者是否共用同一个房间。一些三人小组被要求使用传统的系统具有几种不同的摄像机视图并给出他们的偏好。有人建议，重要的是，人们不仅可以观看发言者的面部表情并与屏幕上的某人进行眼神交流，而且还可以观看非发言者的面部表情以及远程站点上人们之间的互动。然而，很难提供包括每个参与者的全脸和整体视图在内的大量视频图片。此外，使用多个摄像头并移动它们可能会分散用户的注意力。开发、评估和改进了使用全向摄像头的新型电话会议系统的原型。该摄像机配备有全景视野的半球形镜头，可提供环形图像。在第一个版本中，全景图像是由环形图像制成的。还给出了单向相机拍摄的长镜头图像。在第二个版本中，单向摄像头被编程为对扬声器进行聚焦和变焦。上一版本采用高清全向摄像头，提供高清全脸图像。一个地方最多可容纳8人参加讨论。该系统已在心理健康团体咨询中进行了测试。坐在圆桌旁的参与者可以彼此交谈并与远程讲师交谈，而不会感到受到打扰。讲师还可以分析参与者的面部表情、行为和互动。验证了系统的实用性和可用性。