Holding meetings and workshops in VR is a good alternative to counteract ZOOM fatigue. Participants are more actively involved in the meeting.
Social VR refers to virtual environments where users can interact through avatars and share social experiences in a digital world. These platforms allow people to meet, communicate, and engage in shared activities in immersive 3D worlds. Often referred to as Metaverse applications it represents a fusion of virtual reality, social networks.
Many face-to-face meetings can be held more efficiently and, above all, in a more environmentally friendly manner using platforms such as Zoom and Teams than was possible with face-to-face events. However, if the focus of an event is on communication between the individual participants, Zoom and its ilk will not achieve much.
Most participants have the camera and micro permanently deactivated and as a speaker you wonder during the presentation due to the lack of interaction with the audience if anyone is still listening or due to a network failure the connection was cut and you have already talked to yourself for the last 10 minutes.
The representation of the participants by Avatarswhich, depending on the hardware used, are capable of hand movements via Hand tracking and moving the mouth when speaking, the user gets the impression of really being physically present at virtual events. In virtual reality, for example, we can see very precisely whether our conversation partner, i.e. the avatar, is looking at us or is inattentive and looking elsewhere. In addition to the usual presentation tools such as slide presentations and whiteboards, simulated experience spaces can be created in VR. Meetings can take place underwater or on the moon, for example, if that fits the theme. In social VR applications, I find it much easier to start a conversation with still unknown other participants of an event than in a video conference, because the social behavior of the participants is very similar to the real behavior at a networking event.
The participants come together in small groups to have a conversation. I approach with my avatar, listen to what is being said, join in, if I am interested in the conversation and a pause occurs, I introduce myself and am then usually integrated into the conversation. Just like in real life. This is impossible with videoconferencing solutions like Zoom or Teams. How could it be - everyone hears everyone else talking?
If their participants are explorative and open to new things, why not. But don't expect too much.
Social VR is still young and there is still some room for improvement on both the hardware and software side.
Breaks are important: Schedule VR free breaks where the audience can also put the headset down in between.
VR Software Research: Take a close look at the social VR platform of your choice and analyze whether your event concept can be realized with the modalities of the software and hardware.
Calculate the costs: The costs for setting up a VR event differ extremely between the event platforms. For example, an event with 90 participants cost nothing at Altspace VR, while Engage VR charges at least €10,000 for corporate events.
Does the look suit you? Take a look at the graphical look of the chosen VR platform and decide if the look is suitable for your event.
Brief your speakersMake sure that your speakers are part of "the VR show". If their avatars are just standing around on the virtual stage like cardboard cutouts, because the actors didn't feel like doing the show, it's not a good idea. Avatar or simply do not know how to do it, the illusion of the speaker's presence in the audience collapses.
The right VR glasses for their protagonists: Therefore, the speakers should have VR glasses that allow their body language to be transferred to the avatar as vividly as possible. This is actually the case with all glasses that are available via Position tracking have. Cordless so-called 3Dof VR glasses without position tracking like Oculus Go or Pico G2 or the new Pico G3 are the wrong choice for speakers. Goggles like the Meta Quest Pro or the Pico 4 Enterprise feature Facetracking, which also makes it possible to transfer the facial features of the wearer of the VR headset to their avatar.
Capitalize: Many social VR and Metaverse platforms give you the option to show slide presentations in VR. Write all texts that are shown from presentation slides in VR large and legible. Reading small texts with VR goggles is usually a challenge, as many headsets still lack sufficient image sharpness to allow comfortable reading.
Support In reality and in VR: Make sure you have enough staff to attend to your guests in the virtual space. The first time I attended a VR event, I didn't dare say a word at first because I didn't know if everyone in the event would hear me. If support staff explain the rules of the virtual world to guests arriving in the virtual world, your guests will find access much faster. Also, assign people who can provide support via email or chat outside of the VR goggles if their guests have hardware or software problems. Otherwise, you might run the risk that some of your guests won't even make it into the virtual world and will be excluded because they can't get support for your event in the real world.
You should think about the following
◉ Simple UI
◉ Very abstract graphic
◉ Very abstract and generic avatars
◉ Simple link sharing for invitations possible as with Zoom
◉ Integration of video streams
◉ 3D model upload
◉ 3D editor for customizing
◉ No login account necessary
◉ Compatible with Oculus Quest, Rift, Go / Browser
◉ Support for 2D on PC
◉ Very elegant UI
◉ Avatars are created from photos
◉ Sophisticated presentation tools, whiteboards, sticky notes
◉ Exchange documents possible
◉ Integration of video streams
Custom 3D model upload
◉ Unfortunately not suitable for large events
◉ Compatible with Oculus Quest, HoloLens, Magic Leap
◉ Virtual desktop in VR
◉ Screensharing and Chat
◉ Compatible with Oculus Quest, Rift, Go, Vive
◉ Support for 2D on PC
◉ Up to 50 remote users possible
◉ Media streaming
◉ Playback of recorded VR sessions
◉ Graphically detailed
◉ Avatars lifelike after photo
◉ Full body tracking possible with Vivetracker
◉ Compatible: Oculus Quest, Rift, Pico, Vive, Windows MR, Tablet
◉ Support for 2D on PC
◉ 70+ remote users possible in one room
◉ Media streaming
◉ Graphically kept rather simple
◉ Avatars with comic look
◉ Good built-in networking tools
◉ None different
Environments one is always on the island
◉ No customizing
Compatible with Oculus Rift, Quest, Vive,
◉ Support for 2D on PC
◉ Media streaming support
◉ Graphically kept simple
◉ Avatars chaotic full of memes
◉ Good built-in networking tools
◉ Good customizing
◉ Great community support
◉ Minigames
◉ Compatible with Oculus Rift, Oculus Quest, Vive,
◉ Support for 2D on PC