Modular communications systems and methods therefore

A method comprising:

• rendering, on a screen that is disposed behind a two-way mirror, a display image that comprises a light-emitting portion and a non-light-emitting portion, wherein the display image is viewable in an observation zone that is disposed in front of the two-way mirror;
• and
• superimposing, by the two-way mirror, onto the non-light-emitting portion of the display image, a reflection of a portion of a first side wall that borders the observation zone, as the display image is projected through the two-way mirror into the observation zone;
• wherein the observation zone is adapted to accommodate a user therein, when the user is vertically upright inside the observation zone in a seated position or in a standing position;
• wherein the observation zone is disposed in front of the two-way mirror, horizontally between the first side wall and a second side wall opposite the first side wall, vertically beneath a ceiling that extends from the first side wall to the second side wall, and vertically above a floor that is opposite the ceiling and that extends from the first side wall to the second side wall;
• wherein the reflection of the portion of the first side wall that is superimposed by the two-way mirror over the non-light-emitting portion, comprises a backdrop to the light-emitting portion of the display image, and the backdrop provides an observable depth relationship for the light-emitting portion of the display image when the user views the display image along a line of vision that extends straight through the two-way mirror to the screen;
• wherein the two-way mirror, that is between the screen and the observation zone, is angled towards the first side wall along a vertical axis extending through the two-way mirror towards the ceiling, to reflect the portion of the first side wall as the backdrop for the light-emitting portion of the display image;
• and
• wherein the screen is disposed in a vertical orientation behind the two-way mirror, so that, when the user is inside the observation zone and facing a center of the two-way mirror, the screen is closer to the user than a first side edge of the two-way mirror, with the first side edge being a vertical edge of the two-way mirror that is closest to the first side wall.

A system, comprising:

• an image display device comprising a screen, wherein the image display device is adapted to render, on the screen, a display image that comprises a light-emitting portion, a first non-light-emitting portion, and a second non-light-emitting portion;
• and
• a plurality of two-way mirrors disposed in front of the screen, wherein the display image is viewable in an observation zone disposed in front of the plurality of two-way mirrors;
• wherein the plurality of two-way mirrors comprises a first two-way mirror, and a second two-way mirror adjacent to the first two-way mirror;
• wherein, as the display image from the screen is viewed by a user in the observation zone, through the plurality of two-way mirrors:
• the first two-way mirror is adapted to superimpose, on the first non-light-emitting portion of the display image, a first reflection of an interior of a first side region disposed on a first side of the observation zone;
• and
• the second two-way mirror is adapted to superimpose, on the second non-light-emitting portion of the display image, a second reflection of an interior of a second side region disposed on a second side of the observation zone, wherein the second side region is opposite the first side region;
• wherein the observation zone is adapted to accommodate a user therein, when the user is vertically upright inside the observation zone in a seated position or in a standing position;
• wherein the observation zone is disposed in front of the plurality of two-way mirrors, horizontally between the first side region and the second side region, vertically beneath a ceiling that extends from the first side region to the second side region, and vertically above a floor that is opposite the ceiling and that extends from the first side region to the second side region;
• wherein the first two-way mirror is angled around a vertical axis extending through the first two-way mirror to the ceiling, so that a reflective surface on the first two-way mirror partially faces the interior of the first side region;
• wherein the second two-way mirror is oppositely angled to the first two-way mirror, so that a reflective surface on the second two-way mirror partially faces the interior of the second side region;
• wherein, the first two-way mirror meets the second two-way mirror at a corner that is substantially centered with the screen behind the corner;
• wherein the screen is disposed in a vertical orientation behind the plurality of two-way mirrors, so that, when the user is inside the observation zone and facing the corner, the screen is closer to the user in comparison to a first side edge of the first two-way mirror, and in comparison to a second side edge of the second two-way mirror, with the first side edge being a vertical edge of the first two-way mirror that is closest to the first side region, and the second side edge being a vertical edge of the second two-way mirror that is closest to the second side region;
• wherein a superimposition of the first reflection onto the first non-light-emitting portion comprises a first backdrop for the light-emitting portion of the display image, and a superimposition of the second reflection onto the second non-light-emitting portion comprises a second backdrop for the light-emitting portion;
• and
• wherein the first backdrop with the second backdrop comprise an entire backdrop that provides an observable depth relationship, relative to the light-emitting portion of the display image, when the display image is viewed by the user in the observation zone, along a line of vision that extends straight through the plurality of two-way mirrors to the screen.