Star Trek-like 3D video gadget

A Star Trek-style three dimensional video conferencing pod has been unveiled.

Dubbed to be the closest thing to teleportation as we will ever get, the 'Telehuman' pod allows people in different locations to video conference as if they are standing in front of each other.

Since the 3D video image is visible 360 degrees around the Pod, the person can walk around it to see the other person's side or back.

While the technology may seem like it comes from a different universe, it's not as complicated as most would think.

Dr. Roel Vertegaal and his team at the Queen's University Human Media Lab in Canada used mostly existing hardware - including an array of Microsoft Kinect sensors, a 3D projector, a 1.8 metre-tall translucent acrylic cylinder and a convex mirror.

Cameras capture and track 3D video and convert it into the life-size image - although for the full effect you need several 3D cameras to capture both back and front of each speaker.