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My Co-op Experience at SAP D-shop

I’m excited to share my co-op experience at SAP d-Shop Toronto, which was nothing short of transformative. Over several months, I went on a journey that not only honed my technical skills but also broadened my perspectives on sustainability, diversity, and the power of storytelling in the corporate world.

The co-op began with AI ethics, climate action, and sustainability courses. These courses opened my eyes and set the tone for my entire experience, instilling a sense of responsibility toward using technology ethically and sustainably.

One of the most significant parts of my co-op was collaborating with my supervisor, Fouad F., to develop an app using SAP Build. Here, we focused on creating applications that addressed critical areas such as sustainability and diversity. This project was a testament to SAP’s commitment to social responsibility, allowing me to contribute directly to solutions that could make a real-world impact. The process of brainstorming, design thinking, and developing these apps was both challenging and rewarding, providing me with a hands-on understanding of what it takes to bring an idea to fruition in the tech industry.

In addition to practical skills, my co-op experience was enriched by getting a certification in SAP’s Generative AI course. This accomplishment not only added a valuable credential to my budding resume but also deepened my understanding of the field of artificial intelligence.

The exploration of Virtual Reality (VR) and RAUM, under the guidance of Patrick Fish, was another highlight. We delved into how VR could revolutionize the workplace, especially regarding collaboration and communication. This exploration was about understanding the technology and its potential to transform traditional work environments into more interactive and immersive spaces. This experience was not only technologically enriching but also sparked my interest in the innovative ways tech can enhance workplace dynamics. My co-op journey was further enriched by developing storytelling and presentation skills, which are crucial for any aspiring professional. Under Patrick’s mentorship, I learned the art of conveying complex ideas in a compelling and understandable manner, a skill that is invaluable in the corporate environment. This aspect of my experience helped me understand the importance of communication skills in technology and business.

Networking and interacting with various professionals at SAP was another cornerstone of my co-op experience. Through coffee chats, I gained insights into different areas of technology, from software development to project management. These interactions were not just about building a professional network; they were about understanding the diverse career paths in tech and the various roles that contribute to the success of a company like SAP.

Working alongside fellow co-op students Adeliia Hrechaniuk, Matthew Rebelo, and Taline Henin added a collaborative dimension to my experience. We shared insights, supported each other’s projects, and learned from each other’s experiences. This camaraderie and exchange of ideas underscored the importance of teamwork in achieving common goals. Lastly, I am immensely grateful to my supervisors, Rupayan Mukherjee and William R Laverde, for their guidance and support. They were instrumental in making my co-op experience both educational and enjoyable, providing me opportunities to grow and challenges to overcome.

Quelle:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/my-co-op-experience-sap-d-shop-tymur-rostorhuiev-pw3yc/

22. Januar 2024 0 comment
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Examples

Have Collaborative Meetings from Anywhere with XR

This edition of 3D Focus will be looking into how Extended Reality (XR) can enhance collaborative meetings, providing an immersive experience for users. In engineering and manufacturing, digital collaboration is an essential part of the design and manufacturing process. The importance of collaborative working through digital channels was highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic and many people have continued to opt for remote working.

But even before lockdowns gave rise to working from home, collaboration between globally distributed teams required some degree of remote communication. However, remote collaboration does not remove the need for physical interaction.

Reduce the Need for In-Person Meetings

Despite increasing remote working, there are still benefits to office work. In the “Working from Home Around the Globe: 2023 Report” conducted by EconPol that surveyed employees on their opinions about working from home, the main benefits of working on the businesses’ premises are socializing with co-workers (said by 62% of participants) and face-to-face collaboration (said by 54.4% of participants). Talking with co-workers and collaborating in person can make it easier to generate ideas, uncover issues, and brainstorm solutions.

However, with the popularity of remote work increasing how can businesses combine the benefits of office working and working from home? Extended Reality (XR) allows for more effective collaboration and is more interactive than typical video calling with applications like Microsoft Teams and Zoom that has become the norm. Although XR may seem like a niche market its popularity continues to grow. In fact, IMARC reports that the XR global market size reached US$ 92.5 Billion in 2023 and is expected to grow 39.2% throughout 2024.

When reviewing 3D data using an XR device, users can visualize, engage, and interact with their design data at full scale and in context, which is more intuitive than having to interpret 3D data viewed on a screen. This disconnect between viewing 3D models on a 2D screen is known as the “cognitive gap”. XR is a great way to close this gap, allowing users to fully understand their 3D design data.

Because of this, XR can significantly reduce the need for in-person meetings. It allows fully remote workers and globally distributed teams to collaborate, while also being able to visualize CAD models in 3D and at full scale. As a result, time and money can be saved on travel where previously an in-person meeting would be necessary.

Design reviews are an excellent example of this. The ability to review 3D CAD data at full scale allows users to conduct design reviews that would previously have required a physical early-stage prototype. The model can be manipulated, and all users can visualize the same model in real time from their point of view. This means that XR can facilitate remote design reviews as well as enhance in-person collaborations.

In-Person Collaboration

XR can also be used when all participants are in the room together. XR makes it easier to understand and contextualize the data compared to just viewing it on a computer. It also offers the capability for any user to manipulate the data while everyone views the model at the same time. This visual reference can make it easier to explain concerns and ideas, which results in issues being pointed out and design changes being made earlier in the production process.

Bridging the Communication Gap

Working from home has become a popular option with the Office for National Statistics reporting that 40% of working adults did some degree of home working at the beginning of 2023. It was also found that parents of a dependent child were more likely to work from home, suggesting that people who may require more flexibility seek out jobs that offer remote work opportunities.

While remote work offers benefits like improved work-life balance, communication challenges can arise. XR addresses these gaps, providing an immersive experience that eliminates the disconnect of computer-based interactions. XR’s interactive nature makes remote work as engaging as in-person meetings, offering a more viable option for remote collaboration.

Since XR is fully immersive, there is no feeling of disconnect like there is when interacting with people through a computer screen. In XR, everyone can engage with the same data rather than a single person sharing their screen and controlling what everyone else sees; this can help alleviate confusion when trying to describe a specific aspect of a design. This means that remote work utilizing XR devices and applications can be as interactive as an in-person meeting, making remote working more engaging, closer to in-person meetings, and offers a more viable option for remote collaboration with changes being made in real time.

Valiant TMS Use Cases

Valiant TMS are an excellent example of how using Extended Reality can aid in collaboration. Valiant TMS have been using TheoremXR for a wide range of different use cases and have witnessed firsthand the difference XR can make in connecting teams.

“The multi-user environment design review” and “remote expert” are two significant ways XR was used to bring a team together in a virtual environment for training and design reviews. XR allowed Valiant TMS to provide support to in-plant maintenance personnel with equipment builds, troubleshooting, and repair.

Alongside conducting remote design reviews, Valiant TMS have also been using TheoremXR to train new teams in other countries. By utilizing the virtual environment XR provides they trained a team in India completely remotely. And since this virtual environment is immersive, they found it much easier to convey important new information and guidance than it would have been with a video call.

Another use case Valiant have found with TheoremXR is the ability to conduct design inspections for tools that are built in a different place to where they were designed. Designers and engineers can collaborate with the build site to review the tools and identify any errors before they are shipped.

Final Thoughts

As remote working remains very popular, it’s important to find new ways of collaborating digitally. Remote working comes with many benefits including increased productivity and better work life balance; however, many people feel like communicating through a screen is not interactive enough.

XR is an excellent solution, offering immersive experiences that bridge communication gaps, facilitate remote meetings, and enhance collaboration across distributed teams.

3D Focus explores a wide range of engineering and manufacturing topics; discussing Extended Reality, 3D PDF, and CAD Translation. Remember to subscribe to the 3D Focus newsletter to be kept up to date with new editions.

Quelle:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/have-collaborative-meetings-from-anywhere-xr-theorem-solutions-kf9fe/?trackingId=0rxHuJhHmNbBrujJbv33aQ%3D%3D

16. Januar 2024 0 comment
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Examples

VictoryXR closes $2.5M investment round to scale its metaversity platform

VictoryXR, a provider of immersive education solutions, has announced the completion of a USD $2.5 million investment round, which was completed by Hartmann Metaverse Ventures I, a fund specializing in immersive technology, gaming, and extended reality (XR).

Other participants in this fundraising round include Juvo Ventures, who led the effort, as well as Tamiami Angels and Kendall Hunt publishing. VictoryXR stated that the funding will be used to advance the global reach of its ‘metaversity’ platform.

“From day one we believed that XR could be a major force for good, disrupting and equalizing the antiquated education space. For the cost of a single text book, a VR headset could give access to entire worlds of high-quality immersive learning,” said Felix Hartmann, founder and Managing Partner of Hartmann Capital. “After carefully studying the industry it became evident that VictoryXR was consistently out-executing its competition reaching more universities and schools, while also upgrading its offering with the latest technologies in AI.”

VictoryXR, an edtech company known for integrating XR technologies such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and pass-through mixed reality, has made significant strides in education. The company stated that its platform is currently used in over 120 university campuses.

Steve Grubbs, CEO of VictoryXR, highlighted the company’s dedication to enhancing education through technology: “We continue to provide products that dramatically increase learning by students in both K-12 and higher ed.”

Grubbs also noted the company’s recent introduction of conversational AI avatars into its platform, which marks a “revolutionary step forward” for teaching remote students and providing quality instruction for every student.

Over the past year, VictoryXR has collaborated with major partners such as Meta, Qualcomm, T-Mobile, Lenovo, HTC Vive, and Pico, further solidifying its position in the edtech space.

For more information on VictoryXR and its XR education platform for schools and universities, please visit the company’s website.

Quelle:

VictoryXR closes $2.5M investment round to scale its metaversity platform

Image / video credit: VictoryXR / YouTube

18. Dezember 2023 0 comment
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KnowledgeResearch

Warum Videokonferenzen bei Teams & Co. so ermüdend sind

Ein finnisches Forscherteam hat untersucht, warum virtuelle Meetings User zum Gähnen bringen. Demnach fehlen Stimuli und es hat weniger mit Überlastung zu tun.

Seit der Corona-Zeit hat die Anzahl virtueller Meetings kaum nachgelassen. Es gibt Büroarbeiter, die täglich in vier oder mehr Teams-, Zoom- oder Webex-Videokonferenzen sitzen. Doch was macht das mit uns und wie geht unser Körper damit um? Oftmals ist man danach erschöpft. Bisherige Studien sahen die Gründe dafür in mentaler Überlastung. Eine Forschergruppe der Aalto Universität in Finnland kommt nun zu einem gegensätzlichen Ergebnis.

Fragenbogen und Herzdaten

Dazu hatte Studienleiterin Niina Nurmi, deren Studie im „Journal of Occupational Health Psychology“ veröffentlicht wurde, exemplarisch eine Gruppe von 44 Wissensarbeitern über 382 virtuelle Meetings hinweg beobachtet. Dabei wurden sowohl körperliche Messwerte erfasst (Herzfrequenzvariabilität, HRV) als auch direkte Fragen gestellt. Dabei zeigte sich: Die Menschen, die ihre Zeit in Videokonferenzen verbringen, sind eher unter- als überbeansprucht.

„Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Wissensarbeiter während virtueller Meetings eher Schläfrigkeit und Untererregung als hohe Stresserregung empfinden. Diese Ergebnisse stellen die weitverbreitete Annahme infrage, dass sich die Ermüdung bei virtuellen Meetings als Erschöpfung aufgrund von Überlastung manifestiert“, sagt Nurmi, Assistant Professor of Organizational Design and Leadership. Das heißt: Videokonferenzen sind oft zu langweilig, um die Nutzer bei der Stange zu halten. Die Konzentration leidet.

Kein großer Stress, dafür ausgelaugt

Und auch wenn Videokonferenzen nicht zu direktem Stress führen: Die Ergebnisse der Studie deuten darauf hin, dass eine hohe Anzahl von Besprechungen, insbesondere virtuelle, die Mitarbeiter während des Arbeitstages auslaugen kann. „Daher sollten Führungskräfte ihre Mitarbeiter dazu anhalten, die Zahl der Besprechungen auf das unbedingt Notwendige zu beschränken und persönlichen Besprechungen nach Möglichkeit den Vorzug zu geben“, sagt Nurmi. Das gilt trotz der Tatsache, dass viele Mitarbeiter – im Gegensatz zu immer mehr Unternehmen – das Home Office lieben. „Auf der Grundlage unserer früheren Forschung haben wir festgestellt, dass die Arbeit von zu Hause aus (d. h. Telearbeit) ein hohes Maß an Autonomie und Flexibilität in Bezug auf Arbeitszeiten und -ort bietet, was mit einem höheren Wohlbefinden einhergeht“, so die Forscherin.

Die Ermüdung vieler Nutzer bei Videokonferenzen hat auch technische Gründe. Apps wie Teams, Zoom oder Webex sind nicht darauf ausgelegt, wirklich unterhaltsam zu sein. Schon das Starren in die Augen des Präsentators kann ein Problem sein. „Das Umschalten der Kamera durch Hervorheben des Sprechers hilft dabei, zu verfolgen, wer gerade spricht. Aber auch der Redner muss die Reaktionen der anderen sehen, um zu verstehen, ob seine Botschaft ankommt“, so Nurmi. Könnten Mixed-Reality-Verfahren, wie sie sich in den kommenden Jahren zunehmend durchsetzen sollen, helfen? Sie habe die zwar noch nicht für Meetings untersucht, sagt die Expertin. „Aber sie könnte das Potenzial haben, die Sitzungsmüdigkeit zu verringern. Da die Mixed-Reality-Technik die Schaffung von immersiven Besprechungsräumen ermöglicht, die eine Brücke zwischen der physischen und der digitalen Welt schlagen, kann sie den Teilnehmern das Gefühl vermitteln, sich im selben Raum zu befinden, auch wenn sie physisch getrennt sind.“

Quelle:

Foto:  insta_photos/Shutterstock.com

https://www.heise.de/hintergrund/Warum-Videokonferenzen-bei-Teams-Co-so-ermuedend-sind-9351486.html

17. November 2023 0 comment
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ExamplesMetaverse

Innovate or Stagnate: How the Metaverse Accelerates Growth

For enterprise companies, the metaverse can serve as a dynamic catalyst for growth. That’s because there’s a tough reality to business today: You’re either innovating—or you’re stagnating.

Here, we’ll explore how virtual worlds can help innovators find new opportunities for industry leadership and profitability into the future. 

1. The metaverse increases productivity and collaborative ideas.

Virtual worlds are powerful at amplifying collaborative output. By providing shared work environments, leaders empower staff to form relationships that drive innovation. You can think of it as team-building by proximity, similar to what happens in a physical office, only better. 

Better how? Now you can connect teams from across the globe, bringing together a diversity of minds without the related expenses. You can also improve the quality of connection between staff members by providing structures that let them bring their best selves to work. 

Older research from 2017, featured in Harvard Business Review, revealed that face-to-face communication was more effective than email, stating it exceeded the quality of text-based exchanges by a factor of up to 34. 

Things have changed, though. We’ve become more adept at digital communication–and we have the technology to overcome dated constraints without having to actually be face to face.  

In the metaverse, avatars allow individuals to interact in real time in small group conversations. The environment allows enterprises to replicate and surpass that high quality of collaboration.

Part of this is because the metaverse lets staff say goodbye to some of the stresses related to physical offices. Tension around commutes, noise from open floor plans, and strict schedules can limit the focus and creativity required to innovate. 

The reality is many people find it challenging to be in offices, but don’t speak up for fear of reprisal. Typically, their concerns relate to work-life balance. 

People may live in places that are far from offices for economic or lifestyle reasons, but then they have to pay commuting expenses. They may want to attend to family relationships in different ways—without involving work.  

The metaverse gives enterprise companies a way to free people from many typical stresses, while still sustaining the connectivity and relationships that moves companies ahead. 

This is a cultural shift—one that may inspire controversy in the short term—but leading companies are quickly learning that virtual collaboration holds the power to unlock new levels of productivity and innovation 

2. The metaverse opens up new client and revenue opportunities. 

The metaverse is young enough that it’s not too late to be considered an early adopter and gain lasting competitive advantages.

By being among the first companies to enter virtual worlds, you can signal to clients and prospects that you’re at the forefront of global technology.

You can also build new revenue streams around metaverse solutions. 

Here are a few ideas:

  • Establish metaverse space for client and prospect meetings to give them a taste of what it’s like to work with your company.
  • Launch sell-through offerings by partnering with metaverse platform providers to offer clients their own virtual worlds for work or events. 
  • Host partner events and activations that let you streamline effort while multiplying impact. 

By pioneering the use of the metaverse, enterprise companies can reach new market segments, bolster client confidence, and create immersive experiences that maximize brand equity. 

3. The metaverse is a clear way to support sustainability initiatives.

The metaverse holds great potential for enterprise companies to reduce their environmental impact. By shifting teams away from commercial real estate and into virtual worlds, companies can achieve a smaller physical footprint that supports sustainability.

Enabling remote work also has the power to eliminate several thousands of daily commutes, representing a substantial impact.  

With scientists calling 2023 the hottest year on record, leaders can take a stand. A virtual infrastructure may help mitigate how much gas-powered vehicles contribute to climate change. 

4. The metaverse reduces operational costs to expand profitability. 

The metaverse can serve as a direct tool for cost reduction. Operational costs, including office space, utilities, supplies, and other various expenditures, are exorbitant for enterprises. 

Some companies are making dramatic shifts into the metaverse, replacing office overhead and travel costs with virtual worlds. 

For companies that are just beginning to explore the power of the metaverse, incremental shifts work, too. Bringing teams over one at a time can fundamentally improve a department’s resource allocation. 

Additionally, indirect costs decrease as the metaverse gains traction across your company. With greater flexibility for staff, lost productivity becomes less of an issue. Incidentals, like supplies, may decrease. Variable costs, like events, may stabilize. 

5. Launching a metaverse pilot may be easier than you expect. 

It’s possible to launch a branded metaverse without heavy design and development costs and timelines. Virbela provides enterprise companies with secure virtual worlds that feel like an extension of your company’s physical spaces and digital properties. 

Quelle:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/innovate-stagnate-how-metaverse-accelerates-growth-virbela-pnoic/?trackingId=jXseHvr1eaca0R3%2FlTvD9A%3D%3D

16. November 2023 0 comment
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Examples

Could remote work be better?

Virtual reality vs video conferencing

The numbers show that virtual reality in the workplace can improve communication, togetherness, output satisfaction, and the experience of working together in virtual workshops.  

In today’s digital age, the way we conduct workshops and meetings has evolved dramatically. With the rise of remote work, many businesses have turned to video conferencing as a primary method of communication. However, with the advances in virtual reality (VR) technology, there is a rapidly growing interest in exploring its potential to elevate the collaborative employee experience.

To explore this area, the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Lower Saxony, Germany agreed to conduct several of their regular workshops using VR headsets. PwC designed and constructed the virtual environment where the pilot was carried out. The University of Münster monitored this pilot and produced the results, highlights of which are summarized below.

“Following the pandemic, modern workforces must be resilient against the next major disruption and find ways to work more effectively with one another remotely. Immersive technologies unlock new and powerful dimensions of collaboration.” André HenkeMinistry of Internal Affairs Lower Saxony (Germany)

The study revealed insightful findings on the value of VR as a collaborative tool when compared with traditional video conferencing solutions, showing a marked improvement in the way we can work together remotely.

  • +16% improvement in communication
  • +58% greater sense of closeness to colleagues
  • +11% higher satisfaction with workshop results
  • +15% more comfortable in a VR meeting

The most significant impact was a 58% boost in participants feeling a sense of closeness to their colleagues when using VR, underlining its potential to foster team cohesion, especially in remote scenarios. Additionally, there was a 16% improvement in communication, suggesting clearer exchange of ideas and information in VR environments. The results also showed an 11% uptick in satisfaction with the workshop’s outcomes, indicating that the immersive nature of VR might lead to more productive sessions.

Interestingly, despite the common perception of VR headsets as cumbersome, there was a 15% increase in comfort levels during VR meetings compared to traditional video conferencing. This suggests that any physical discomfort from the hardware is outweighed by the psychological comfort users feel when representing themselves in a virtual world with a digital avatar. This form of self-presentation can feel less intrusive than the constant exposure of an always-on video call.

“Overall, findings from our studies show that meetings in the enterprise metaverse can benefit from the unique characteristics of VR technology.” Prof. Dr. Thorsten Hennig-ThurauUniversity of Münster

While the advantages of VR for remote collaboration are evident, it is important to address the cost of these benefits. One contrasting data point we found is a 20% increase in exhaustion among participants using VR compared to traditional video conferencing. This could be attributed to the immersive nature of VR, which demands a different kind of cognitive and sensory engagement.

In a nutshell 

To conclude on the debate of virtual reality and video conferencing, the best technology depends on the scenario. For straightforward presentations or one-way dialogues, video conferencing remains efficient and practical. On the other hand, when running remote workshops where a deeper level of engagement and interaction is needed, VR offers a more immersive, connected, and productive solution. As VR technology advances, we can expect the challenges of incorporating this technology to decrease which suggests a promising future for its adoption in the workplace.

For more information relating to this study, including its methodology and additional data points, please see the University of Munster working paper below. There are further results which are currently being analyzed and the complete set of data with adjacent commentary will be made available through a PwC report shortly. Please contact us below if you’d like to access this report when it releases.

Quelle:

https://www.pwc.ch/en/insights/data-analytics/virtual-reality-vs-video-conferencing.html

https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6042ba0eee8bed6122377bad/t/651ae7824daa600715b99cb7/1696262025085/XRLAB+WP+%233_Meetings-in-the-Metaverse_2023.pdf

27. Oktober 2023 0 comment
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Examples

Die Revolution der VR-Trainings Warum Virtual Reality Videokonferenzen übertrifft

In der heutigen digitalen Ära sind Videokonferenzen zur Norm geworden. Doch mit dem Aufkommen der Virtual Reality (VR) Technologie stellt sich die Frage: Kann VR die Art und Weise, wie wir uns treffen und lernen, revolutionieren? Eine kürzlich veröffentlichte Studie gibt uns einige Einblicke.

Das vorliegende Dokument „Meetings in the Enterprise Metaverse: How Virtual Reality Affects Scaled Business Agility“ enthält einige Ansätze, um klar zu machen, dass VR im Umfeld auch für Training und Working interessant ist und Vorteile gegenüber zu Videokonferenzen bereithält.

Ausgangspunkt

  • Teammeetings sind seit langem ein zentraler Bestandteil von Unternehmen weltweit.
  • Die Umgebung, in der solche Meetings stattfinden, hat sich durch Digitalisierung und Globalisierung verändert.
  • Videokonferenzen sind zur „neuen Normalität“ für kollaborative Meetings geworden.
  • Es gibt Kritik an der Effektivität von Videokonferenzen, insbesondere wegen Phänomenen wie “ Zoom fatigue“.
  • Es gibt ein wachsendes Interesse an der Nutzung von Virtual Reality (VR) für Meetings.

Hauptthemen des Dokumentes sind…

  • Die Autoren untersuchen, ob VR-Technologie eine sinnvolle Alternative zu etablierten Videokonferenzformaten für die Remote-Zusammenarbeit darstellt.
  • Die Forschung konzentriert sich auf agile Planung, ein Bereich, der gut geeignet zu sein scheint, um die Vorteile von virtuellen Meetings zu nutzen.
  • Die Studie vergleicht die Verwendung von VR-Headsets für Meetings im Enterprise Metaverse mit der Verwendung von Videokonferenzen für dieselben Meetings.
  • Die Studie beinhaltet die Teilnahme von Managern einer öffentlichen Organisation und Managern von Partnerorganisationen.

Autoren des Dokumentes

  • Nilusha Aliman ist Forschungsbeauftragte am XRLab@MCM und Doktorandin am Lehrstuhl für Marketing & Medienforschung an der Universität Münster.
  • Thorsten Hennig-Thurau ist Professor für Marketing an der Universität Münster und Akademischer Direktor des XRLab@MCM.
  • André Henke (Dipl.-Ing.) ist Leiter der Digitalisierung der öffentlichen Verwaltung im Ministerium für Inneres und Sport von Niedersachsen

Aus den vorliegend Dokument leite ich drei Thesen und deren Bedeutung im Unternehmenskontext ab.

Die Macht der sozialen Präsenz in VR

In der Geschäftswelt ist die Qualität der Kommunikation entscheidend. Während Videokonferenzen eine gewisse Ebene der Interaktion bieten, kann nichts die Nuancen und Tiefe der Face-to-Face-Kommunikation ersetzen. VR bietet hier einen entscheidenden Vorteil. Durch die Simulation einer physischen Präsenz in einer virtuellen Umgebung ermöglicht VR den Teilnehmern, nonverbale Hinweise wie Körpersprache und Mimik auszutauschen. Dies führt zu einer tieferen, authentischeren Kommunikation, die es Teams ermöglicht, effektiver zusammenzuarbeiten und Missverständnisse zu minimieren.

Eines der herausragendsten Merkmale von VR ist die Fähigkeit, eine erhöhte soziale Präsenz zu bieten. Face-to-Face-Kommunikation, oft als die „reichste“ Form der Kommunikation bezeichnet, ermöglicht es den Interaktionspartnern, soziale Hinweise durch ihre Körpersprache und andere nonverbale Signale direkt auszutauschen.

Laut dem Dokument:

„The reason is that F2F communication is known to be the “richest” form of communication, as it allows interactants to directly exchange social cues through their body language and other non-verbal signals.“ (Seite 5)

In einer VR-Umgebung können diese nonverbalen Hinweise und Interaktionen in einer Weise nachgebildet werden, die in Videokonferenzen oft fehlt, wodurch eine tiefere und bedeutungsvollere Kommunikation ermöglicht wird.

VR bietet fortschrittliche kollaborative Tools

In einem wettbewerbsintensiven Geschäftsumfeld ist die Fähigkeit, effizient und kollaborativ zu arbeiten, von unschätzbarem Wert. VR-Plattformen sind mit fortschrittlichen kollaborativen Tools ausgestattet, die über das hinausgehen, was Videokonferenzsysteme bieten können. Stellen Sie sich vor, Sie arbeiten in Echtzeit an einem virtuellen Whiteboard, brainstormen in interaktiven Räumen oder führen Produktdemos in einer 3D-Umgebung durch. All dies ist in VR möglich, wodurch die Produktivität gesteigert und innovative Lösungen gefördert werden.

Die VR-Technologie hat in den letzten Jahren erhebliche Fortschritte gemacht. Heutige VR-Geräte, wie sie von Unternehmen wie Meta (ehemals Facebook) und HTC angeboten werden, eröffnen neue Möglichkeiten für Teammeetings.

Das Dokument betont:

„However, today’s stand-alone, mass-market VR devices offered by firms like Meta (formerly Facebook), HTC, Pico (from TikTok parent company Bytedance), and soon Apple open new possibilities for team meetings.“ (Seite 3)

Mit VR können Teams in computer-simulierten Umgebungen zusammenarbeiten, die mit fortschrittlichen kollaborativen Tools ausgestattet sind, die das gemeinsame Arbeiten und Lernen in Echtzeit fördern.

Erhöhte Immersion und Engagement in VR

Die Ablenkungen während Videokonferenzen sind allgegenwärtig, sei es durch Hintergrundgeräusche, technische Probleme oder einfach durch das Multitasking am Computer. VR schafft eine immersive Umgebung, die diese Ablenkungen minimiert. In einer VR-Sitzung sind die Teilnehmer vollständig in die Aktivität eingebunden, sei es ein Meeting, eine Schulung oder eine Brainstorming-Session. Dieses hohe Maß an Engagement fördert nicht nur die Konzentration, sondern auch die Kreativität und Problemlösungsfähigkeit des Teams.

Die immersive Natur von VR kann dazu beitragen, dass sich die Teilnehmer stärker in das Training einbezogen fühlen und sich besser auf den Inhalt konzentrieren. In VR können Mitarbeiter und Arbeitgeber in computer-simulierten Umgebungen zusammenarbeiten, die durch ihre Avatare repräsentiert werden.

Wie im Dokument erwähnt:

„Specifically, the use of VR devices promises to provide computer-simulated environments in which employees and employers can meet and work together represented by their avatars.“ (Seite 3)

Fazit

Während Videokonferenzen sicherlich ihre Vorteile haben, zeigt die Studie deutlich, dass VR-Trainings das Potenzial haben, die Art und Weise, wie wir lernen und zusammenarbeiten, zu revolutionieren. Mit erhöhter sozialer Präsenz, fortschrittlichen kollaborativen Tools und erhöhter Immersion bietet VR eine überzeugende Alternative zu herkömmlichen Videokonferenzsystemen.

Erleben kann man dies seit über 3 Jahren bei mir in meinen Ausbildungen z.B. zum VR/AR-Trainer*in oder VR Collaboration Experten*in.

Das Dokument findet Ihr hier

Quelle:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/die-revolution-der-vr-trainings-warum-virtual-reality-torsten-fell-l6hae%3FtrackingId=It9kptGtRdakQ4clPHk%252Bcg%253D%253D/?trackingId=It9kptGtRdakQ4clPHk%2Bcg%3D%3D

26. Oktober 2023 0 comment
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Examples

How to use VR in corporate training

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, staying ahead of the competition requires a commitment to innovation and employee development.

Virtual Reality (VR) training has emerged as a transformative tool that not only sets businesses apart but also equips them with a competitive edge.

From enhancing employee skills to optimizing operational efficiency, VR training offers plenty of benefits that are reshaping the way organizations educate and empower their workforce.

In this blog, we will delve into the strategies, considerations, and best practices for successfully incorporating VR training into your business operations.

Whether you’re a startup looking to invest in cutting-edge training methods or an established corporation seeking to revitalize your employee development programs, this guide will provide you with the insights needed to harness the power of VR and drive your business toward greater success.

Most notably, virtual and augmented reality technologies are now coming into the workplace, offering teams more interactive and immersive learning experience in a safe environment.

What is virtual reality training?

Virtual reality training or VR training is a digital simulation of realistic scenarios used for training purposes and skill development. Virtual reality technology is used to provide immersive and interactive learning process in a virtual environment using VR headsets.

It allows individuals to practice and acquire new skills, gain knowledge, or undergo specific training scenarios in a virtual environment that replicates real-world situations.

VR training vs. virtual training

Virtual Reality (VR) training and Virtual Training are two distinct approaches to train and educate participants. Both of them leverage digital technology but differ in their immersive nature.

Virtual training or online training typically refers to web or computer-based training programs that can be accessed remotely. It includes a wide range of e-learning modules, webinars, and digital courses that offer flexibility and accessibility.

E-learning is of course an altogether sophisticated affair. Many corporations have dedicated learning teams to inspire workplace skill development, while platforms like Udemy and Coursera offer thousands of online courses to an increasingly hybrid workforce.

In contrast, VR training takes immersion to the next level, transporting learners into realistic, three-dimensional environments where they can interact with objects, scenarios, and other users.

While both approaches have their merits, VR training stands out for its ability to provide experiential learning, enabling users to practice skills and decision-making in lifelike settings.

This distinction makes VR training particularly valuable for industries requiring hands-on experience, such as healthcare, aviation, and manufacturing, where the most immersive training experience can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.

Why do you need virtual reality training?

Virtual reality (VR) training is essential for businesses due to its ability to provide immersive and interactive learning experiences. It offers a realistic and controlled environment where employees can engage in lifelike simulations without real-world risks.

Virtual training has become one of the most popular use cases for virtual reality. Greater immersion in your environment can promote emotional involvement with the subject matter, which results in better training outcomes and greater recall for learners.

VR is a great training tool, and it is particularly valuable for industries with hazardous or complex tasks, such as aviation, healthcare, manufacturing, and emergency response.

VR training also offers cost-efficiency by reducing expenses associated with traditional training methods, such as travel and equipment.

Moreover, it enhances employee engagement, accelerates learning, ensures standardization of training experiences, and provides valuable data analytics for tracking and improving performance.

What are the benefits of VR for corporate training?

VR training enhances learning outcomes by improving knowledge retention and skills acquisition through immersive experiences. It contributes to safety and risk mitigation by allowing employees to practice procedures without real-world consequences.

VR training is accessible and scalable, enabling remote access and easy adaptation to a growing workforce. It results in cost savings over time by reducing the need for physical training facilities and materials.

Additionally, it increases engagement and motivation among learners, offers customization to address specific business needs, and provides real-time feedback to help employees improve their performance promptly.

Overall, VR training is a versatile and cost-effective tool for enhancing employee skills, productivity, and compliance with industry regulations in a corporate setting.

Now when it is clear that virtual reality is useful for corporate training, let’s have a look at what kind of training can you do in VR.

Types of VR corporate training

1. VR Soft skills training

Soft skills training in virtual reality (VR) has gained prominence as a transformative approach to developing essential interpersonal and communication skills in the modern workplace.

According to a report by PwC titled “The Effectiveness of Virtual Reality Soft Skills Training in the Enterprise,” VR-based soft skills training has demonstrated remarkable results.

The study found that VR training can be up to four times faster than traditional methods, allowing employees to acquire critical skills like leadership, teamwork, and empathy more efficiently.

Furthermore, PwC’s research revealed that VR training led to a significant increase in employee confidence, with participants reporting a 4.3 times higher emotional connection to the content compared to conventional training.

This highlights the unique ability of VR to create immersive, emotionally engaging scenarios that foster deeper learning and skill retention.

As businesses continue to recognize the importance of soft skills in the workplace, VR training emerges as a powerful training tool to equip employees with the interpersonal competencies needed for success in today’s dynamic and collaborative business environment.

2. VR Team trainings and workshops

Internal team training and workshops conducted in virtual reality (VR) represent a cutting-edge approach to fostering collaboration, innovation, and efficiency within organizations.

These VR-based sessions facilitate team building and problem-solving in entirely new ways. Participants can immerse themselves in interactive environments where they collaborate on projects, brainstorm ideas, and practice decision-making in a realistic environment.

The technology allows teams to overcome geographical barriers, enabling remote employees to engage fully in the training process, thereby promoting inclusivity.

Moreover, the immersive nature of VR team training enhances engagement and ensures that participants actively absorb information and skills, resulting in a more profound and lasting impact.

Notably, the absence of the need for physical travel translates into significant cost savings for companies, as teams can achieve these training objectives without incurring travel expenses. Check out our ROI of VR blog to learn more.

As organizations continue to adapt to remote and hybrid work models, VR offers a dynamic platform to create engaging and productive team training experiences that can empower teams to thrive in today’s ever-changing business landscape while contributing to cost efficiency.

3. VR Customer’s training

Incorporating virtual reality into customer interactions has emerged as a powerful tool for education and consultancy services. Businesses can now use VR to provide customers with immersive, hands-on experiences that go beyond traditional methods.

Whether you’re an educator looking to engage students in a new way or a consultant seeking to illustrate complex concepts, VR can bridge the gap between explanation and understanding.

By putting customers directly into virtual simulation, they can gain a deeper comprehension of products, services, or concepts, fostering a more interactive and memorable learning experience.

This not only enhances customer satisfaction but also builds trust and credibility, as customers can see and experience the value of your offerings firsthand.

As VR continues to evolve, its applications in customer education and consultancy are poised to revolutionize how businesses engage and educate their clients, ultimately driving better outcomes and deeper relationships.

4. VR HR Training & Onboarding

Leveraging virtual reality for HR purposes, such as onboarding, is a game-changing approach that enhances the employee experience from day one. VR enables organizations to create immersive and engaging onboarding experiences that help to assimilate new hires to company culture, values, and processes in a highly interactive manner.

Instead of traditional paperwork and static presentations, new employees can navigate through virtual environments, meet key team members, and even simulate real-life work scenarios.

This not only accelerates the onboarding process but also boosts the retention of crucial information, resulting in quicker integration and productivity.

Moreover, VR onboarding eliminates geographical constraints, allowing companies to provide a consistent and inclusive onboarding experience for remote employees.

By embracing VR for HR purposes, businesses can foster a more emotionally connected, efficient, and welcoming onboarding process, setting a positive tone for new hires’ journey within the organization.

5. VR Medical training

Medical training has been significantly enhanced through the integration of virtual reality (VR) technology. This innovative approach provides medical professionals with realistic and immersive learning experiences that are crucial for skill development and decision-making in healthcare.

Medical students, physicians, and surgeons can practice a wide range of procedures and scenarios in a safe and controlled VR environment, allowing them to improve their skills and build confidence without the risks associated with real patients.

Moreover, VR training can simulate rare or complex medical cases, providing learners with exposure to situations they might encounter infrequently in clinical practice.

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, VR medical training becomes an invaluable tool for improving patient care and safety, ensuring that healthcare professionals are well-prepared and proficient in their critical roles.

6. VR Safety training

Safety training has witnessed a transformation with the integration of virtual reality (VR) technology. VR offers a powerful platform for providing realistic and immersive safety training experiences across various industries.

From manufacturing to construction, aviation to healthcare, employees can now engage in lifelike, realistic simulations of hazardous situations and emergency scenarios without exposing themselves to actual risks.

This hands-on training not only improves knowledge retention but also enhances muscle memory and decision-making skills.

Moreover, VR allows for repeatable and scalable training experiences, ensuring that all employees receive consistent and standardized safety instruction.

By simulating critical safety procedures and environments, VR training equips workers with the skills and confidence needed to respond effectively in real-world situations, ultimately reducing accidents and ensuring safer work environments.

7. Realistic VR simulation

Realistic VR simulation is a groundbreaking technology that recreates lifelike environments and scenarios within a virtual world.

It allows users to immerse themselves fully in a digital replica of real-life situations, whether it’s flying an aircraft, performing surgery, or navigating hazardous work conditions.

The key to its effectiveness lies in its ability to replicate sensory experiences, including visuals, sounds, and sometimes even touch.

Realistic VR simulations offer valuable training opportunities by providing a safe and controlled environment for learners to practice and refine their skills, ultimately enhancing their readiness for real-world challenges.

As technology advances, the level of realism in VR simulations continues to improve, making it an invaluable tool across various industries for education, training, and problem-solving.

Virtual reality training examples from a real-companies?

1. Deutsche Telekom MMS

Deutsche Telekom MMS supports large corporations and medium-sized companies in their digital transformation with around 2,100 employees at nine locations. Deutsche Telekom MMS develops end-to-end experiences, which go beyond digital with the use of virtual reality technology.

The Deutsche Telekom MMS team has used Glue for workshops, prototyping, planning sessions, and review meetings for more than 2 years.
customer story. https://player.vimeo.com/video/828923701?dnt=1&app_id=122963

2. Konecranes

Konecranes, is a world-leading group of Lifting Businesses, using a branded workshop space in Glue to educate their trainees about the S-Series hoist. The participants go through the exercise instructions, then they examine the model and complete the exercises to deepen their learning.

3D visualisation creates a better understanding of how the hoist works and keeps participants more engaged and focused on the subject during the training. https://player.vimeo.com/video/765998466?dnt=1&app_id=122963

3. University of Münster

The University of Münster employs virtual reality for various purposes, including conducting seminars and providing students with immersive experiences in the metaverse. Through these seminars, students have the unique opportunity to engage with VR technology, gaining firsthand experience in the metaverse and its applications.

This hands-on approach not only enriches their understanding but also equips them with valuable skills and insights that are increasingly relevant in today’s digital landscape. https://player.vimeo.com/video/831415009?dnt=1&app_id=122963

How to implement VR training into your business operations

To implement VR training into your business operations effectively, focus on these five key steps:

1. Identify Training Needs:

Identify specific areas where VR training can benefit your organization, addressing skills gaps or knowledge gaps.

2. Select the Right VR Solution:

Choose a suitable VR platform or solution that aligns with your training objectives and budget. Choose a reliable VR headset with all the essential technical features to ensure a seamless VR training experience.

3. Create or Select Content:

Develop or select engaging VR training content that mirrors real-world scenarios relevant to your goals. Tailoring the content to your specific needs and objectives will enhance the effectiveness of your VR training program.

4. Pilot Programs and Gather Feedback:

Start with pilot programs to test and refine your VR training. Gather feedback from participants to make improvements and polish the experience.

5. Scale Gradually and Provide Support:

Gradually roll out VR training, ensuring employees have access to equipment and proper training. Offer ongoing support procedural training, and continuously improve your training programs based on results and technological advancements.

Practical tips for VR training implementation

The newness of it all can be intimidating, so in this post, I offer a few tips to help you kick-start the process of implementing VR training in your organisation.

1. Ease your team into the world of VR training

Our first tip is to avoid jumping straight into the deep end with immersive technologies.

If your teams have never put on a headset, it’s important to start with an explanation of the VR benefits and how it will help their work. After that you can then start distributing headsets and scheduling onboarding sessions to familiarize your team with the tech, guiding them on how to navigate different spaces and interact with others.

2. Keep your onboarding sessions light and engaging

When you go into that first onboarding session, it’s important to have a plan.

Prepare the materials and the space in advance.

This way, everything is in place when you arrive for the session itself, including any written instructions or collaboration tools you’d like to use, as Air France KLM Group demonstrates. Some spaces have breakout rooms, so think about how you might use them.

Remember to keep the session light-hearted and engaging. Avoid information overload.

Instead, focus on encouraging participation and collaboration. If you’re hosting a larger group, establish some house rules, such as muting when not speaking or raising hands to signal intent to speak.

Lastly, in the first session, encourage exploration – be there to assist, but allow a safe space for independent discovery.

3. Create your own VR learning experiences

Beyond that introductory session is where things get really exciting as you have the opportunity to create and curate your own VR training experiences.

Could parts of your company’s training program benefit from an immersion into the VR world, giving them the vibrancy they perhaps lack in more traditional formats? (I imagine that company staples like code of conduct and sourcing training could be made a whole lot more engaging in VR :))

Beyond that, what other unique learning experiences might you develop?

Perhaps you could digitize a training workshop that’s challenging or expensive to conduct in the real world or create a demo showcase to train staff and customers on your products and truly stand out from the crowd.

As VR offers an immersive platform conducive to storytelling and interaction, you should be striving to create wow experiences that captivate your audience. 

Just like IQM has done when showcasing its quantum computing technology to customers.

For any new VR training session you create, I’d also recommend you think about building in a fun icebreaker activity: as headroom’s Daniel Schaefer explains, an icebreaker can get people “used to expressing themselves in the space” and help foster that “sense of togetherness” 

4. Get feedback after each session

VR training solutions are flexible and can be readily adjusted based on feedback. Take the time to understand from your colleagues what worked and what didn’t.

Every team is unique and finding the most effective use cases for them is key, as exemplified by Axel Springer,  which experimented with a wide array of environments and meetings before zeroing in on the most effective ones.

Conclusion

As with any new technology, VR use in business for learning and employee training presents a learning curve. However, the rewards are worth the investment.

Businesses are discovering that VR enables highly effective training. It allows employees to practice skills in a safe, controlled environment, receive instant feedback, and learn through an engaging, hands-on approach, often surpassing the effectiveness of traditional training methods.

Quelle:

How to use VR in corporate training
24. Oktober 2023 0 comment
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Examples

The Top Immersive Collaboration Vendors for 2023

XR innovators investing in immersive collaboration

Only a few years ago, when extended reality solutions first started emerging in the market, many viewed them as a novel and consumer-focused.  

Companies quickly rolled out solutions for the entertainment and gaming landscapes, based on new, immersive technology, introducing us to a new age of digital media. However, as XR solutions have evolved, the use cases for these innovations have transformed too.  

Increasingly, we’re learning how the right tools can not only bring consumers together, but align workforces, improve productivity, and enhance creativity too. Today, XR is helping to address some of the core problems faced by distributed remote and hybrid workforces, unlocking a new era for corporate collaboration. Today, we’re looking at just some of the vendors in the XR market introducing new solutions for immersive teamwork.  

  • Glue
  • Igloo
  • Meta
  • Arthur
  • Virtalis
  • 3DExperience
  • Virbela
  • MakeReal
  • Rendever
  • MeetinVR
  • Hubs
  • The Wild
  • Party.Space
  • Breakroom
  • Cluster
  • Microsoft
  • InsiteVR
  • MootUp
  • Spatial
  • Hoppin
  • GatherInVR
  • Remio
  • INVIDAR

Glue 

Virtual collaboration platform, Glue, combines tools for digital teamwork with a customizable ecosystem where staff members can connect, share knowledge, and thrive. Built on a secure framework, the Glue platform provides businesses with numerous virtual spaces to choose from for all kinds of meetings and ad-hoc conferencing sessions.  

Every employee in a conversation can create their own avatar, and interact in a space that offers a deeper sense of presence than the standard collaborative workplace. Glue even makes it easy to interact with free-hand drawings, post-it notes, whiteboards, and more. When a meeting is over, users can retain the materials and data from the interaction for as long as they like. 

→ Explore Glue

Igloo 

Otherwise known as Igloo Vision, Igloo aims to make meetings more productive, with immersive spaces. The solution transforms meeting rooms into environments where users can be surrounded by multiple screens, streams of information and more. Live project documents can be displayed around the room, and updated in real time. Plus, wrap-around content and room-scale visualizations helps everyone to step into the meeting experience.  

With web-based tools and an inspiring environment for interaction, Igloo helps businesses to connect their remote and hybrid workers with in-office staff, in an easy-to-use landscape. Plus, users can mix and match all kinds of content, from CAD software to 3D design packages. 

→ Explore Igloo

Meta 

One of the core companies exploring the evolution of the metaverse and meta-work, Meta offers various tools to assist companies in the development of immersive team environments. Not only does Meta have its own enterprise-focused VR headsets on offer, but it also allows organizations to connect through Meta workplaces on Horizon Worlds.  

Companies can develop their own landscapes for collaborative meetings, and give each team member a unique avatar with its own face and outfit. The solution also comes with privacy controls to help businesses maintain their compliance standards in the evolving digital landscape. Plus, through Workplace, users can share information in a range of different formats.  

→ Explore Meta

Arthur 

Focusing on enterprise collaboration experiences in virtual reality, Arthur enables organizations to build environments where teams can get together, share work, and connect with custom avatars. The platform’s app can be downloaded onto any VR headset or laptop, and allows users to upload their own imagery to create more true-to-life avatars.  

There are more than 30 sample rooms to choose from, and users can design and customize their spaces according to their own needs. Arthur rooms support more than 70 active participants, and come with built-in features for presentations, pinboards, whiteboards, flow charts, and audio zones. There are even integrations available for the tools teams already use.  

→ Explore Arthur

Virtalis 

Intended to help companies collaborate on more complex projects, the Virtalis ecosystem supports everything from training and educational sessions to layout planning, operations, and business maintenance. Companies can use the software to build digital twins of their existing environments, with contextual information throughout.  

Virtalis is also constantly updating its platform with immersive design components built to reduce the barriers to enhanced virtual meetings. Alongside software, Virtalis also designs systems and hardware for immersive collaboration, such as the ActiveCube, ActiveWall, and ActiveMove technologies. Solutions like the Virtalis Reach platform don’t require any specialist hardware to use, and can leverage pre-existing digital assets.  

→ Explore Virtalis

3DExperience 

Created by Dassault Systems, 3DExperience is a platform for business innovation. The solution provides companies with an all-in-one solution where they can connect people, ideas, solutions, and data in a single space. The platform captures multiple sources of data in the same place, and unlocks new opportunities with data science and analysis.  

Within the collaborative landscape, team members can work together on files, annotate and markup documents, and share resources with people anywhere in the world. Not only does the ecosystem support collaborative business experiences, but it also opens the door for new opportunities for customer experience and service too.  

→ Explore 3DExperience

Virbela 

Virtual world platform, Virbela is investing in the age of the metaverse with its digital platform. Considered one of the first enterprise metaverse environments, the solution gives businesses access to the tools they need to facilitate remote and hybrid work, as well as virtual events and remote learning. Companies can access a customizable canvas with enterprise-grade security built-in. 

Within the platform, users can unlock tools for presentation such as slides and screen-sharing capabilities, as well as spatialized voice technology for deeper immersion. The solution also includes access to unique avatar creation tools, breakout groups, and more. Plus, Virbela can scale to support tens of thousands of staff members and visitors at once.  

→ Explore Virbela

MakeReal 

MakeReal is a company committed to creating virtual immersive learning and collaborative experiences for businesses in any industry. The company supports both AR and VR experiences, with tools for custom avatars, digital twin environments and more. Plus, everything is secured according to the highest industry standards, to keep data protected.  

With MakeReal, companies can design and implement their own virtual version of any workplace or office environment, allowing team members from all over the world to connect and share information in real-time. Complex physics mechanics within the ecosystem also allow team members to engage in training sessions with their peers, to develop muscle memory for critical tasks.  

→ Explore MakeReal

Rendever 

Focused on the health and medical world, Rendever creates virtual experiences for those in senior living facilities. However, the flexible environment can adapt to suit a wide range of use cases. The platform was designed with user experience in mind, helping caregivers and professionals in the medical space to interact with people remotely, and help them improve their quality of life.  

The award-winning life program features expert hosts to reduce the burden on activity staff, and business leaders can also leverage support from an engagement team, who will work hand-in-hand with each company to create the right environment for their needs. The solution specifically focuses on overcoming issues of social isolation. 

→ Explore Rendever

MeetinVR 

One of the better-known tools for immersive collaboration on the marketplace today, MeetInVR supports companies in designing a virtual environment for team interactions. The platform includes all of the tools companies need to facilitate meetings with teams, and customers. Plus, there are also solutions for hosting events, workshops and training sessions too.  

With flexible custom avatars and customizable meeting environments, MeetInVR can adapt to the needs of businesses from a host of different environments. The company even offers access to custom replica rooms, built as digital twins of environments that already exist, so organizations can build their own metaverse. Meeting rooms can host up to 32 simultaneous users, and have their own breakout spaces.  

→ Explore MeetinVR

Hubs 

Built by Mozilla, Hubs is a VR platform users can adapt to their specific needs. There’s no VR headset required to get involved. Companies can build environments accessible through any device or browser, so every team member can get involved. Plus, each staff member can also create their own simplistic avatar, for a better sense of presence during a meeting. 

The Hubs technology integrates with Blender, so 3D artists can create worlds from scratch. Or companies can choose to use some of the existing templates in the marketplace. Plus, the customizable social spaces come with spatial audio, media sharing capabilities, and access controls for improved security and privacy.  

→ Explore Hubs

The Wild 

Built for the building industry, The Wild is a cross-platform solution for AEC workflows, which users can access across a range of desktop devices, as well as AR and VR tools. The product integrates with Revit, BIM 360 workflows and Sketchup, and also includes its own native sketching tools for rapid prototyping and idea sharing. Users can connect with up to 8 people in any space.  

With integrated speech-to-text comments, users can communicate and collaborate asynchronously, or synchronously with other team members. The metadata shared within the VR environments is also accessible for all Revit files in a space. Teams can also access assistance from the team of developers at The Wild for building and development support. 

→ Explore The Wild

Party.Space 

Flexible virtual environment platform, Party.Space was designed to help companies host and create metaverse events. However, the solution is also suitable for the development of training sessions, townhall meetings, and other collaborative sessions. There are a range of environments to choose from, depending on the number of attendees included in each meeting.  

Users can enhance their virtual spaces with videos and interactive landscapes, as well as custom avatars and emojis. The platform comes with gamification components to help engage team members wherever they are, as well as event management tools, and solutions for custom branding. Real-time chat is also available as another form of communication.  

→ Explore Party.Space

Breakroom 

Created by Sinespace, Breakroom enables companies to develop digital HQ environments in the metaverse. The platform is fully customizable, with the option to embed all kinds of collaborative tools and 3D content. What’s more, companies can benefit from a secured environment, certified to the highest standards, with a market-ready library of templates and assets to choose from. 

Breakroom environments can be accessed from anywhere, through a browser or app. The solution includes both voice and video zones for communications, as well as highly customizable avatars, to give each user a more unique virtual presence. The built-in world management system also allows users to easily setup, customize, and adapt their worlds to suit their needs. 

→ Explore Breakroom

Cluster 

Available on the AppLab for the Meta Quest, Cluster is a social platform designed to bring people together in a virtual space. Users can access a variety of different worlds at any time, from anywhere in the world. There are countless environments to discover for teams who don’t want to build their own metaverse landscape from scratch.  

Users can also build their own avatar, share information and data, and connect through audio with easy-to-use settings. Cluster also appeals to a wider customer base of consumers, with the option to create virtual assets and sell them within an online marketplace. The solution is accessible on AR devices and platforms such as Google Play too.  

→ Explore Cluster

Microsoft  

Microsoft first made it’s entry into the immersive collaboration environment with AltSpaceVR, before branching out into the Mesh solution for Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Mesh allows companies to create immersive experiences they can share with users anywhere, on any device, using mixed reality applications. The Teams-enabled environments work on VR headsets, as well as mobile phones, tablets, PCs, and the Microsoft HoloLens 2 headset.  

The platform allows team members to see and share content in real-time, with 3D elements, create their own avatars, and engage with eye contact, facial expressions, and gestures. Users can even design components or new products together in real time using holographic images.  

→ Explore Microsoft

Resolve (InsiteVR)

The InsiteVR application was built to enable collaboration in the construction and engineering landscape. The solution provides cross-platform meeting technologies for companies across a range of industries, with support for CAD models and various forms of documents and data. Users can use the landscape to connect with colleagues around the world, using a host of VR devices.  

Meeting leaders can gather users around a specific design model in 3D, and point out elements of a component with virtual laser pointers. There are also tools available for real-time annotations, comments, and notes. Users can also collaboratively review their images in the virtual reality space, then save documents from interactions to their chosen device.  

→ Explore InsiteVR

MootUp 

Created as a 3D virtual events platform, MootUp supports companies in easily hosting immersive hybrid and virtual events accessible across devices and platforms. Users can either get involved with a virtual reality headset, or through their computer or smartphone. The solution includes a 3D avatar-driven environment, capable of scaling to 10,000 or more users across all devices.  

Team members can decorate, brand and white label more than 50 different stages and environments, or bring their own 3D model into the mix. Plus, the technology is built for enterprise level data privacy and security, with protections included for every platform. When teams want to invite new members to the session, all it takes is a single link.  

→ Explore MootUp

Spatial 

Another well-known vendor in the immersive collaboration space, Spatial allows users to experience and create unique events and meeting experiences accessible anywhere in the world. One of the core features of Spatial is its avatar creation engine, which supports users in customizing their online presence with thousands of combinations of clothing items from well-known brands.  

Users can also start building virtual worlds within Spatial with a couple of clicks, using free 3D templates, Sketchfab models, and custom environments. The comprehensive Spatial Creator Toolkit powered by Unity also enables businesses to develop more unique spaces. Teams can also set up access controls to assist in privacy protection.  

→ Explore Spatial

Hoppin 

Focusing on the concept of multi-user immersive teleportation, Hoppin is a social VR network, built for both consumers and businesses alike. The platform comes with its own content studio management system, where users can experiment with 3D content and videos before sharing them with their teams and colleagues in a virtual world.  

Hoppin works with companies directly to build unique environments too, creating specific digital twin projects and environments for different use cases. The platform supports everything from data and knowledge sharing to custom avatar creation. Companies can also implement their own security and privacy protections for compliance purposes.  

→ Explore Hoppin

GatherInVR 

Built to help companies and individual users share information and connect in a virtual space, GatherInVR is a simple platform with numerous room environments to choose from. Business users can click into a pre-built room of their choice using virtual reality headsets, computer desktops or mobile apps, and interact with both friends and colleagues.  

Created by Quepellin, the tool provides businesses with an easy way to get started with virtual meeting, with audio sharing and straightforward virtual avatars. Companies can also work with the brand to build their own customizable environment for unique business needs.  

→ Explore GatherInVR

Remio 

Supporting both gamification and collaboration in the workplace, Remio is a VR platform built to bring people together. The platform includes spatial audio features, to help boost immersion, as well as collaborative tools so users can share information and documents in real-time when working in their virtual space. There are also built-in games in the platform for team building exercises.  

Within Remio, organizations can host meeting sessions with built-in screen sharing, screen recording, and presentations. Plus, the technology enhances the audio of individual users to improve interactions. Business leaders can also build their own branded virtual rooms, and share them with team members on a secure hosted platform.  

→ Explore Remio

INVIDAR 

English XR company, INVIDAR works with businesses one-on-one to develop digital twins and virtual spaces for unique collaborative use cases. The company specializes in asset creation, real time content optimization, environmental modeling and metahuman design. The organization’s bespoke approach to immersive meeting room and collaboration environment development ensures businesses can address a range of pain points with metaverse technologies.  

INVADAR allows organizations to build ultra-realistic versions of products and environments in the digital space, with detailed texture and interactive elements. Plus, users can also take advantage of analytics to determine how people are interacting with their virtual spaces.  

→ Explore INVIDAR

Quelle:

The Top Immersive Collaboration Vendors for 2023
19. Oktober 2023 0 comment
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Examples

Ready, Steady, Mesh!

This autumn end-of-summer has been – and will be even more – a wild ride. During past three weeks I have been videographed, organized and run a hybrid User Group (Teams Finland) meeting, did a next episode of my very popular Microsoft Teams webinar (Microsoft Teams Spotlight), had a proper sendoff towards the next half-century, booked a trip to Redmond, and of course have had lots of customer meetings and PoC building in AI and Metaverse. Diving onto Azure OpenAI and other Azure AI services has been extremely rewarding as it is bringing the future of work to today. Work is changing very rapidly and new opportunities are opening all the time. In the AI a huge number of initiatives, apps, services and uses are born every month, if not every week. In some ways it resembles the dot.com bubble over 20 years ago, but the difference is that AI is driving digitalization and change , with real results (ROI and benefits), faster than anything before. So what about the Metaverse? As I have written before, the Metaverse is not dead. It is bubbling under and starting to utilize more and more AI. In all that, I decided to write this time a bit more about Microsoft Mesh. Early August, a month ago, I wrote about preparing for Mesh, so now I want to start you to think how and why you should be thinking about your use for virtual environments- be it Microsoft Mesh, or some other platform. No, we don’t have any news about when Mesh is coming but we know it is currently in Private Preview. That makes it the perfect timing to start planning about how and when to use it and to what. 

What is Microsoft Mesh?

Microsoft Mesh is a platform that powers shared immersive experiences. It offers remote and hybrid workers a more natural way to connect with a sense of co-presence. Mesh also enables creators to build custom employee experiences that bring people together for new hire onboarding, training, team building, and more. Microsoft is bringing Mesh capabilities into Microsoft Teams with avatars and immersive experiences so employees can easily connect where work happens.

I just had to take that from my previous article and put it here as it is quite compact way to tell about Mesh. In this article I want to focus on bringing people together for new hire onboarding, training, team building and more. And especially open up that more part. It is about how, why and when you should be using immersive virtual worlds for benefits as there are lots of meetings and scenarios that don’t benefit from 3D. We leave them as they are for now and instead think use cases that can give value to do in 3D.

Couple of benefits virtual worlds offer

When we are talking about immersive meetings and experiences, it is good to keep in mind what we gain what we can’t get in 2D – at least not very easily or immersively. 

Spatial audio brings in the ability to participate or hear conversation or audio depending where you are in the environment. If you are standing near the stage, you can hear the speaker loud and clear. If you move away from the stage you can engage in conversation with others and that doesn’t disturb others who are further away. Spatial audio works like our real world audio: we have conversation with people who are next to us. Or when you walk by a group of people talking, you can hear a bit what they talk about – perhaps it interests you to join them, or just stand nearby so you can listen them. 

  • Spatial audio makes also possible to create aural experiences. Standing next to a video you can hear the music and audio, for example. Or perhaps there are different background music in different areas, that reflect the feel of the environment. Or environment can react to you with audio. Perhaps it is just little things like a bit of wind adding for immersiveness of the environment – increasing enjoyment, foster creativity, improve motivation and thus learning. 
    Let’s not forget the obvious: 2D meetings are usually “one talks everyone else listens“. With spatial audio you can have multiple conversations happening at the same time. Think Teams Breakout Rooms here – but being more visual and changing “rooms” happens by moving in the environment. 
  • Go beyond the barriers of reality. In virtual world there are no other limits but our own imagination. No, this doesn’t mean that every world must look like surreal collection that came our of Salvador Dali’s mind. People need in the environment something familiar for them to ground their minds to – so lobby or starting area should make them feel comfortable. But unlike in the real world you can do things you could: teleport to other areas, fly around the city and land to walk on it’s streets, have architecture that defies gravity, or environment or objects that reacts and changes when you do something. Think like applying magic to our physical world. In the metaverse and virtual worlds you can travel from the earth to the moon and back in seconds, or explore the factory from both bird and detail perspectives during different seasons. On more reality grounded appliances are simulations that you can observe and run again and again. 

Unlike in the real world, you can press restart and do it again. This could abovementioned simulations, or it could be  training and practicing exercises, learning courses, asking someone to explain it again and again, or visual data analysis. Just to name a few examples. 

I could have a long list here, but let’s cut it here and move forward

See spatial audio in use in this Microsoft Mesh picture (by Microsoft).

, and more

Now as we we can imagine a bit more what could be possible, let me give you some ideas how Microsoft Mesh could be used. First the immersive meetings, that you can activate from Microsoft Teams View-menu during the meeting to join directly using your Teams client – or by virtual reality headset (Meta Quest 2/Pro). 

  • Have a different meeting setting to help to energize. Doing 2D meetings all day long can be tiring, even with camera off and avatars. Perhaps all you need is to have a bit of time in more relaxed environment. In 3D everyone is present and you can engage in conversations, move around and form groups of people easily. Perhaps it is the daily standup, ideation / brainstorming or team checking in about the status. Something that connects all these is that these don’t have immediate need to share content to others – instead these focus on discussion and exchanging ideas. Think it like a walking, ad hoc or quick-paced meeting that is set up easily and don’t require knowledge on “how I am presenting content to virtual reality?”. 
  • Social gatherings for teams that don’t share the same physical location. Similar to the previous point, but people attending could be larger. Usually you spend your times in chats or 2D meetings – some have cameras on, but most have them off. With a few mouse click people could join the virtual world where they can greet team members and have discussion groups, exchange jokes and just be more relaxed. No, this doesn’t replace real physical meetings but for teams lacking them – it can be fun when used occasionally. 
  • Watch party – sharing a video or live stream and watching it together, allowing less intrusive way for commenting and chatting aloud with colleagues. 
  • Town halls, business area meetings and other company events that have been traditionally a 2D meeting. Some people share content & information and mostly people are listening. What virtual worlds change from 2D is the ability to catch up with some colleagues. Spatial audio lets us talk with few colleagues even when there is everyone from the company present. It is very different to talk to 3-5 close colleagues about the topic, instead of asking to open the mic and speak it aloud for everyone in the company.. If you were to do it in 2D meeting, it would mean you had a chat group going on with a few people. In 3D some colleague might join up spontaneously. For chat group, they need to be invited. 

When going beyond simple meetings, that is when the fun starts!

Let’s remind ourselves with this picture by Microsoft for Mesh scenarios.

It gives a good start to figure out a few ways where Mesh can be better than 2D – or event physical world in some cases. 

  • Corporate events – this could be the Townhall mentioned above, or it could be an event in organization’s own space that is branded and also contains interactivity, interactions, videos, holoprojections, aural experiences and more. The event doesn’t need to be a PowerPoint watch party – it could be a holoported CEO on a stage speaking, or themed rooms with different topics and tasks you do together with your colleagues. Why corporate events should be less engaging than social events that are happening in the consumer metaverse already?
  • Interactive learning is one of most used use cases – you can learn by your own pace or by live teacher. It gives option to have “hands on training” without being on site. The polytechnic and college nearby has done applications to just this: learn how to drive and handle a fork truck, have fire escape practices and there are lots of possibilities. Perhaps you learn about firewalls by collecting puzzle pieces and putting them together, or by having information flow visualized to you. Education and learning are among the biggest areas that is advancing fast in metaverse tech. You can’t scale physical class rooms quickly, but to virtual training people can join from distances away and it scales to needs. 
  • Guided and self-guided tours: virtual tours. Have you been to the museum or art gallery? Probably yes. Have you participated in guided tours where the tour guide can help to understand the context and background by telling what objects are. There are also unguided tours when you listen to the recorded guide. Now, let’s push that thought to virtual reality and go on a tour around the upcoming office building, explore the windmill farm, take a walk around the the factory and onboard new employees to the company. This can , and will be , combined with interactive learning. 
  • Immersive simulations visualize the result. Perhaps it is a new building being built, or solar power farm, and people can see how it looks in the environment and in different times of the day and year. Or simulate natural effects, such as wind, storm, winter or tsunami, on facilities or buildings. Not everyone can “see the data” – we, many of us humans, process visualized information better than endless tables of numbers or graphs. 3D makes it possible to “dive onto” the scene and explore details – up to the level the model has been constructed. For industrial metaverse this is the thing – bringing digital twins alive and using them to find possible exceptions or design errors. 
  • Product showcase is one of my favorites. If produce or design something real, you can present it to people better in 3D than from a flat video. It can be examined, walked around, touched or just presented in a captivating way. Clothes, lures, bicycles, cars, valves, mars rovers, megacities “the wall” can be brought “alive” – or at least to the environment where people can see them in 3D. 
Microsoft Mesh environment with various details. Picture by Microsoft.

More? More!

  • Visualizing information. How much power windmill factory is producing? What kind of weather conditions there are? Are there issues? What about the big picture of the power grid? How well factory lines work? What our sales process looks like? Yes, the information can be abstract and yet it can be visualized because virtual reality has no limits but what we create.
  • Situation rooms for aggregating information to one space. Could be project rooms, operating the company “the bridge” or “sales room”, How to manage a crisis? What information is needed, what kind of decisions need to be made? Instead of flying every stakeholder and key people to the same room in the same city they can meet in the virtual situation room and decide on next actions. Visualizing information and free form collaboration “in the room” can help to make better decision quicker. 
  • Showrooms can be converted to design or architecture team project rooms, where team can examine, review and make changes to the outcome. Editing 3D models in 3D environment is not ideal, but collecting notes and ideas is. 
  • Recruiting externally or internally – a showroom variation where you can get to know the company and people. Showing company spaces, atmosphere, key personnel introductions, providing a walk-through around facilities.
  • Industrial metaverse, bringing Digital Twins “alive”. Connected to the real world Digital Twins can show their real state and information. Perhaps this is used as a control room for certain scenarios – let’s close those doors, turn down heating, examine potential leaks or issues, test out new configurations. Digital twins are not necessary just one machine – it could be digital twin of a whole factory, airfield or city. How about using Digital Twins to monitor and operate their physical counterparts remotely, from anywhere? 

What are your first Mesh-steps?

In this article I hope I have given you something to think about how these use cases could bring value over the way they are done today. While meetings are obvious first steps, they don’t use but a small fraction of the whole potential. It all depends on the company and industry. A lot of organizations should be thinking about “… and more” list and think what are their first custom worlds when Microsoft Mesh becomes available (I hope it will happen this year-half (Ignite?) since Microsoft Build 2023 news and details, but we can’t be sure until it is announced by Microsoft. Fingers crossed!). 

I very warmly recommend every organization to start planning and designing for Mesh and how to use it already today. Especially the more engaging the end result is envisioned. For some companies it could be a simple event space in company branding, but I think onboarding and training/learning are generic use cases that resonate with a lot of companies on top of the priority list. For some organizations, it is the functional, integrated, space that supports operations or business, and for some it is about visualizing the data and making better decisions. 

As Mesh and virtual reality is very abstract to lot of people it can be hard to think how it can bring value and ROI. If you think Mesh and Metaverse just another tech project, you will not receive the value you want from it. Collaboration, atmosphere, wow-effect and other details make this a very human approach. Just like any other technology, you need to prepare a change management project. For good results you need examples, experiences, champions network, use cases and scenarios that fit your organization and people working there. There can be a rather big leap for people to take from 2D to 3D – especially if they don’t know why, how and what. The benefits for them. Benefits for the organization. 

To be able to do that, you need to experience it yourself.

The Matrix, 1999. Picture from Matrix quotes. 

The Matrix came out over 20 years ago. And the quote is still relevant. Instead of the Matrix think Microsoft Mesh world or space that has been connected and tailored to your business and to your needs. That is when people start to have that moment when they realize where this tech can be used and how it can help the company & employees. I talk about Mesh in name here, but we all know there are several platforms out there. Since I work with Microsoft tech and enterprise customers there are factors such as security, privacy, governance, compliance and data residency that separate Mesh from various other platforms. There are lots of companies that are waiting for Microsoft Mesh. 

Microsoft Mesh. Picture by Microsoft.

I started this article by talking about AI. In my previous articles I have already envisioned digital humans / assistants / bots that are our buddies in the metaverse. In the virtual world typing or creating content isn’t that easy.. That is why , for many if not all, use cases there will be AI assistants, bots or smart areas that can be conversed with. Yes, I have no doubt we wouldn’t have a Mesh / metaverse Copilot(s) helping us out. As technology and digitalization is advancing at high-speed this isn’t that far away. There are already digital humans, custom neural voice can make “you” speak multiple languages flawlessly, natural language understanding, cognitive services, machine learning and a wide spectrum of AI tech available that can be used already today. 

How this all will be, look and can do tomorrow?

It is important to experiment and create proof-of-concepts to gain experiences, understanding and knowledge to where Mesh, Metaverse, integrations and 3D can bring more value. And also where not to use it. Do you want to know more how all this could help your business or how to get started? You know how to reach me. 

Situation room? Control center? Operations hub? The bridge?

Quelle:

Ready, Steady, Mesh!
7. September 2023 0 comment
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