You might not even need to board a crowded aircraft in the near future thanks to a plethora of new audiovisual technologies.
According to reports, Logitech is developing Project Ghost, a next-generation video calling booth that simulates being in the same room as the person you are speaking with. Stale flying peanuts and exorbitant petrol expenses may become less appealing in the future due to high-tech video calls and other gadgets, according to experts.
In an email interview with Lifewire, Kristen Goldberg, director of marketing for electronics maker Canon U.S.A., said, “When the pandemic hit in 2020, businesses were forced to adapt when people were unable to meet in person, and many tech and software companies took the opportunity to develop solutions that continue to make working from anywhere possible.” “As we have settled into the new normal, we’re continuing to realize the benefits of these new technologies, like less stress, time, and costs that would be spent organizing the logistics and arrangements needed for travel.”
Using video as a transportation tool
Logitech’s Project Ghost device is not yet scheduled for release, but it functions by positioning a piece of glass at an angle between a regular monitor. To simulate eye contact, a camera is positioned just behind the glass.
Not just Logitech is attempting to replace travel with high-tech videoconferencing. With Google’s Project Starline, users can view a three-dimensional (3D) model of the person they are speaking with during experimental communications. In Starline’s present incarnation, the user sits in a booth facing a huge display that is encircled by lights, cameras, and depth sensors.
“Imagine looking through a sort of magic window, and through that window, you see another person, life-size and in three dimensions,” Google stated in a blog post. “You can talk naturally, gesture, and make eye contact.”
High-tech video solutions alone might not be the only thing in store for remote communications in the future. In an email to Lifewire, Troy Jensen, senior manager of global accounts at audio maker Shure, said that the business has noticed an increase in sales from distant customers looking to spend money on external microphones and high-quality audio.
“Everyone talks about a video being the most important element of a virtual meeting, but a meeting cannot happen without clear audio,” Jensen said. “Having high-quality audio helps ensure your message is heard by all participants and is necessary for maintaining participants’ attention on the subject matter you are presenting.”
How Is Travel Changed by Video Technology?
According to Goldberg, in recent years, video conferencing and similar technologies have played a critical role in reducing the need for travel. Apps for video chat, such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom, have proliferated.
Chat software can be enhanced with new collaborative options to improve the remote experience. Using straightforward hand gestures, for instance, participants in person can identify objects or sections of the room with AMLOS, a camera and software package that provides a high-resolution image to participants via a user interface that can be customized to their liking. “This gives remote users better visibility in the room that they wouldn’t ordinarily get without physically being there,” Goldberg stated.
Another emerging technology that is assisting in reducing the need for travel is virtual reality (VR), which allows for in-person instruction and face-to-face conversation in virtual environments. A number of programs, such as Horizon Workroom, are available for use with remote meetings with the Meta Quest 2 headset. Virtual reality users can also explore new places with the help of several travel apps.
The CEO of Jettly, a private jet charter company, Justin Crabbe, emphasized in an email that physical travel is here to stay despite these new technology.