One of the most spectacular announcements from day one at the Google I/O conference took the form of a revolutionary videoconferencing technology called Project Starline.

Google’s idea is to develop technology that gives people the feeling of being together, in the flesh, in an experience that’s far removed from the impersonal coldness of usual videoconferencing software.

Project Starline takes the form of a “magic window” in which a person appears in three dimensions. In fact, the person appears in front of you as if they’re really in the room.

To achieve this, Google notably developed an unprecedented “light field display” system, creating an impression of volume and depth that can be enjoyed with no need for a special headset or glasses.

Google is currently testing out Starline in its offices, with a setup that’s nevertheless cumbersome and costly. Now, the aim is to develop a more affordable solution, mainly for companies and organizations. Demos are currently being held with various partners in fields like healthcare and media.