What Happened: Cisco unveiled Webex Hologram, a photorealistic holographic collaboration tool that allows people to interact as if they were in the same room, even when they are miles apart. This tool has been in development for several years and was officially announced in October 2021. It represents a significant leap forward in the technology of hybrid work and remote collaboration.
Why It Happened: The driving force behind Webex Hologram was the need to overcome the limitations of current remote work tools. While video conferencing and screen sharing have become standard, they lack the depth of real human interaction. Cisco recognized that true collaboration requires more than just seeing and hearing colleagues—it demands a sense of presence that existing tools couldn’t provide. Webex Hologram was created to bridge this gap and enhance the quality of remote communication.
How It Works: Webex Hologram uses a combination of a 12-camera array, advanced NVIDIA processing technology, and light field technology to create lifelike 3D holograms. These holograms are rendered in real-time and can be viewed using AR/VR headsets like Magic Leap 2 or Microsoft HoloLens 2. The technology captures and reproduces the intricate details of light reflection, making the holograms appear as real as if the person or object were physically present. Unlike other 3D rendering methods, such as texture-mapped polygons or point clouds, light field technology provides a far more accurate and immersive experience.
How It Will Benefit Humanity: Webex Hologram has the potential to revolutionize multiple industries by making distance irrelevant. In education, it can enhance remote learning by allowing students to interact with instructors and materials as if they were in the same room. In healthcare, it can facilitate hands-on training and remote consultations, improving outcomes and accessibility. In engineering and design, it can enable more effective collaboration on complex projects, saving time and reducing errors. Overall, it enhances the quality of human interaction in remote settings, fostering better communication, understanding, and collaboration.
When It Will Be Available: Webex Hologram is currently available to beta customers, with broader availability expected in the near future as the technology is refined and rolled out to more users. This rollout will likely accelerate as more industries recognize the benefits of this groundbreaking tool.
Disclaimer: This content was simplified and condensed using AI technology to enhance readability and brevity.
Article derived from:
Holographic 3D video collaboration | Webex Hologram. (n.d.). Webex. https://www.webex.com/us/en/solutions/hologram.html
Bieniek, E., & Bieniek, E. (2023, November 15). Humans are complicated. Webex Hologram embraces that. Welcome to the Video Conferencing Hub. https://blog.webex.com/engineering/webex-hologram/
