Hologram on Line 2

Remember the scene in Star Wars when R2-D2 projects the holographic distress message from Princess Leia to Obi-Wan Kenobi? That technology is almost here, via U.K.- and Dallas-based Teleportec's 3D videoconferencing units. By reflecting the image of a speaker onto a special glass screen, Teleportec's projection system can make a presenter in New York look like he's standing at a podium in San Francisco—in three dimensions.

Teleportec VP Philip Barnett acknowledges that founders Duffie White and Dave Booth were inspired by George Lucas's 1977 classic.

"Both of the original inventors were in the business of visual effects, and so the first part of the puzzle was perfecting the visual effect," says Barnett. "The second part was incorporating that effect with communications, so it seems like there's actually a line of sight between a person in a remote location and an audience."

The concept is still fairly new, but it's quickly catching on. The company has 30 units installed around the world, with a forecast of 300 installed within the next six months; these will be used by individual companies and be available through leasing agencies like office outsourcing company HQ Global Workplaces (pictured). With videoconferencing already on the rise following 9/11, Teleportec is sure to see more interest in its devices. Says Barnett, "When I can get all the benefits of being in the meeting without going to the meeting, that's the best."

Copyright © 2004 Ziff Davis Media Inc. All Rights Reserved. Originally appearing in Ziff Davis Smart Business.