Frank Lloyd Wright would be impressed.

Imagine a living room or office or conference room or retail space with limited or no windows or windows with really bad views… only a TV or computer monitor and a few incandescent or fluorescent lights to brighten up the space (picture the first 10 minutes of “Joe Versus the Volcano“).

Now imagine the same room with sky ceilings and luminous virtual windows that allow the outdoors in from all sides.  Not just pictures of the outdoors, but true high-tech “illusions of nature” that soothe the mind and body.

That’s just what The Sky Factory did, and it is amazing to behold.  As a northerner who is forced to stare at gray clouds and dead trees for no less than six months out of the year, the mere idea of blue skies, babbling brooks and pounding surfs is more than I can handle.  But it is not more than The Sky Factory can deliver.

We’re talking ultra high definition motion here (aka eScapes) captured by award-winning cinematographers.  According to the company’s website, “Using the latest RED Digital Cinema™ technology they capture the beauty of mountains, waterfalls, beaches, streams and rivers, wildlife, and more.” And the scenes run in length from 30 minutes to two hours.  And if you have a request for a particular beach – or mountaintop – a custom illusion is possible.

It’s what my dad would call a touch of heaven.

Disclaimer (this is my second disclaimer in two weeks… sheesh): I acknowledge openly that I have never actually seen the product up close and personal (though I hope to soon), and I have received no incentive to pimp this product.  I simply saw it in a magazine and got unreasonably excited.  What can I say, I love the outdoors… even if it is an illusion.