A Microsoft Research study uses augmented reality to project a life-size person into a room with you, perching them in an empty seat.
In order to get a sense for how well people could communicate this way, seven pairs of study participants built three-dimensional shapes with blocks via augmented reality. One person sat in front of a table in one room with the actual blocks, while their partner sat in another, giving instructions for what kind of shape to construct. Each person was projected into the other’s room so they could work together.
Researchers found that while putting this kind of puzzle together took only about four minutes when people were face to face, it took about seven minutes using the augmented-reality system and nine via Skype video chat.
See the full story here: http://www.technologyreview.com/news/545466/can-augmented-reality-make-remote-communication-feel-more-intimate/