I was in France the past few weeks trying to install the first version of Rhodes. We built a prototype using a Ricoh PJWX4130 ultra short throw projector (4500 lumens), a 1080p webcam, a Chromebox, and Google Hangouts. We are playing with a variety of textures and fabrics trying to make as compelling an image as possible.

In the photo above, we’ve isolated the central panel of a tripartite window at ESRA to project a live video feed to New York. The window on the left shows directly into the school and the window on the right is a mirror. This image which is projected onto grey diffusion film mounted onto a wooden frame. In the evening it is a very compelling image (albeit just about 112x168cm).

We underestimated the difficulty with daytime projection, despite having blocked all rear light from entering. Polarizing film on the window or (far more expensive) daytime rear projection film would also help. Pricing out these alternatives, they are still far less expensive than LCD screens. Indoors, an image of this quality is scalable to ~2x3m, even with moderate light. We’ll keep prototyping and trying to get a compelling image. Once a high quality image is maintained, the crucial part of the project becomes getting the camera right. We want the camera to exist at eye-level behind the screen, so that eye-contact is made intuitively (rather than looking up at a webcam). With rear projection, mounting the camera behind the screen creates a shadow, so the camera has to be as low-profile as possible.