The Vision Pit: Enhancing Remote Collaboration through Simulated Spatial Co-presence

This paper introduces the "Vision Pit," an innovative online meeting booth designed to enhance remote video conferencing (RVC) by replicating the spatial dynamics of in-person roundtable discussions. The Vision Pit addresses the limitations of traditional RVC in conveying non-verbal cues and fostering co-presence. It uses a curved half-mirror to facilitate natural gaze sharing among participants without requiring complex software processing and employs an audio application that generates spatial sound aligned with the participants' seating arrangement on the display. A user study comparing the Vision Pit with standard RVC revealed that participants experienced increased co-presence, improved use of non-verbal communication, and a more balanced participation rate. The Vision Pit offers a promising, cost-effective solution for enriching remote communication by prioritizing natural interaction and shared spatial awareness.