Atlassian builds portal for video chat

Local tech company Atlassian has opened its own "Software Enrichment Centre", and has built a Portal-style video-conferencing device.

Atlassian's Portal device
(Credit: Atlassian)

Atlassian's Sydney office now comes equipped with a portal that looks into its second office across the street, which allows employees to view who is on the other side at all times.

"We've installed portals in our two office locations in Sydney here at the Atlassian Software Enrichment Centre, saving our staff many exhilarating but risky street crossings every day. The portals allow staff to have ad-hoc meetings and conversations by transmitting light and sound.

Now you're thinking with portals ...
(Credit: Atlassian)

"Physical objects do not appear to transmit successfully, however; so far, we've tried to send through a variety of items, including beer, hula skirts, companion cubes and technical writers. Most of the beer has been recovered, but if anyone sees a dazed-looking technical writer, please let us know," Atlassian said on its blog.

The company explains that its lab geeks have hooked up a 42-inch flat-screen television in portrait to a wall, connected to a Mac Mini and a set of speakers. A webcam to the left of the portal captures the image, and transmits it to the other office's portal.

Atlassian says it will continue to work on new projects, like the portal teleconference system, taking advantage of Xbox Kinect to allow users to swipe between video feeds of different offices.