Legal science fiction

Cisco System's telepresence technology and Musion Systems' 3D holographic display technology are both featured in this 2007 presentation dubbed "Cisco 'On-Stage' Telepresence Experience."

What you will see is a man in Bangalore, India talking to a life-sized hologram of a man in California in real time (face-to-face or face-to-virtual-face). The hologram would later speak to the audience and walk around the stage, or otherwise move freely as though he were actually up there on the stage in flesh and blood.

Imagine the benefits it could have for the legal profession!

Telepresence can aid greatly in trials of a sensitive nature - where the safety and security of witnesses are often put at risk when they testify. If telepresence becomes integrated in courtroom proceedings then witnesses can testify without fear or at least with some sense of safety. Another advantage is when witnesses live in far-flung areas in the country and overseas - minimizing the costs of travel and accommodations and more importantly, save time and facilitate the speedy disposition of cases. Of course, some safety nets should be put in - such as the identification and verification of the witnesses' true identity, but these are considerations that will likely be addressed when the state of technology improves overall. More importantly, the legal framework must be flexible yet comprehensive enough to accommodate these changes while safeguarding the integrity of legal procedures and processes.

14th Entry