In recent years augmented reality games have brought 3D images into the real world via projecting interactive rendered images on to a surface in real time. Pulling off the opposite technique has proven to be quite difficult. Bringing physical objects into the digital realm for easy manipulation is the holy grail of remote video conferencing.

Imaging working with teams spread throughout the globe and being able to scan in a physical object that all team members can interact with in real time. Microsoft has already shown major strides in this direction with their ‘Surface’ table. But its strength lies in scanning in flat objects like printed documents.

Microsoft 'Mirage Blocks' Brings 3D Imaging To The Board Room

One of the latest research projects coming out of Microsoft has huge potential for bringing holographic 3D images into the board room.

The project is called ‘Mirage Blocks’ and it uses Microsoft’s Kinect “as part of a system to capture, display and manipulate 3D images of objects on a table.”

Check out the video to see researcher Hrvoje Benko demo the 3d scanning and manipulating of objects.

You can follow me here: @KevinMinott