'Workstation of the future' goes into production

BT today announced that its 'Smartspace' workstation has been licensed for production by Incorporated Technologies Ltd.

Created as a vision of a personal working environment for the multimedia age, this brings together videoconferencing and internet capability, cinematic reproduction of audiovisual material and a user interface employing touch, voice and biometrics to reduce effort and improve efficiency. The concept was devised and demonstrated in prototype form at Adastral Park, BT's research and development centre near Ipswich.

Smartspace offers a new type of virtual interface, BT says, by combining desk and chair with a wrap-around projection screen and 3D-surround sound. Unlike virtual reality systems that involve helmets or headsets, this workstation immerses the operator in the sights and sounds of the display without cutting him or her off from the outside environment. The size of the display provides a workspace large enough to project many different data streams at once.

On top of all that, it makes only limited demands on floorspace - a practical proposition for limited office accommodation or even a home office, BT suggests.

Demand is expected to come especially from business consultants and professional services firms. The technology could also be applied in medicine, counselling or a political context, opening up the possibility of European MPs overcoming distance barriers by carrying out virtual constituency surgeries. Entertainment is also possible, admits BT. Smartspace shows the latest DVD movies with full cinematic-style reproduction and Dolby sound. In addition, it is said to be a near-perfect environment for developing or demonstrating computer games software.

Elliott Chase