Through a collaborative effort by engineers from LinkMenu fabrikas center at Vilnius Tech, residents of Vilnius, Lithuania, and Lublin, Poland, can now connect and interact with each other in real-time using a futuristic installation called the “Portal.”
Comprising of large, round orbs equipped with screens and cameras, the installation was designed with the intention of uniting people from different parts of the world amidst the pandemic and social isolation.
The project took five years to complete and was intended for installation in multiple cities, symbolizing an interactive bridge. The sleek, minimalistic design features LED lights that create an image of a futuristic city. At the same time, the large screens, high-quality cameras, and internet connection enable real-time streaming at both locations. While the distance between the two cities is 376 miles, the portals invite residents to rise above any prejudices or frictions and unite as a unified community.
“The project is a bridge to unity,” says Benediktas Gylys, the President of the Benediktas Gylys Foundation. The Vilnius Technical University was tasked with constructing the portal, which was finally unveiled at the end of a long and stressful pandemic year. The project team aims to build similar installations connecting Reykjavik in Iceland and London in England.
Although the portals may not function as they are presented in science fiction films, the project serves as a reminder that many present-day technologies were initially envisioned in science fiction works.
As global collaborations continue to evolve, advancements in technology have enabled real-time remote surgeries, indicating that this may just be the beginning of the “Portal” story. However, as stated by Gylys, “We need more unity than ever before.”