An enhanced video conferencing system and method includes at least two
conference rooms, the conference rooms connected together electronically
to permit the transmission of images and sound from one room to the other
room. Each room has a large format display system for projecting images
and a camera positioned with respect to the large format display system
to capture images of the conference room and its participants while the
participants are looking at the large format display system, without
obscuring the participants' view of the display system, so as to provide
the perception that the participants in one conference room are looking
directly at the participants in the other conference room. The enhanced
video conferencing system may also include an additional camera for
capturing an image of an item located at a pre-determined location within
the conference room for ultimate transmission to the other conference
room for viewing.