I’m sure that many of you have had poor experiences when participating to phone or video conferences. Now, a new video conferencing interface, named Facetop, improves the level of collaboration by blending transparent images of the user filmed by a video camera on the computer display. This results in a ‘ghost’ image of the user on the screen. When he points at something, “his video reflection appears to touch objects on the screen.”

The computer scientists also developed a two-user version in which the ‘ghost’ images of the two users appear side by side. Both can alternatively take control of the desktop, again allowing a better collaboration. You can expect a Mac version within months and a Windows version in two years. You’ll find more details and pictures in this overview.