In the evolving landscape of technology, networking in professional and business events is not just about exchanging business cards or attending physical conferences. Thanks to pioneering developments in Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), networking is undergoing a transformative shift. These technologies are not just changing the way we connect but are redefining the entire landscape of professional networking. Let’s explore how VR and AI are becoming necessary tools for modern networking, creating immersive user experiences in virtual spaces.
The Immersive World of VR in Networking
Imagine attending a global conference event from the comfort of your home. Virtual Reality makes this possible, by creating immersive environments where you can interact with others in a 3D space. This interaction can replicate the physical presence as well as the feel of an in-person event.
It’s more than a video call; it’s a virtual presence. You can “shake
hands” with participants from another continent, engage in one-on-one conversations, attend virtual trade shows or a keynote speech as if you’re there, enhancing the sense of connection and engagement. VR in networking bridges the gap between physical distance and personal connection, offering an engaging and interactive experience that traditional video conferencing cannot match.
In the immersive VR environment, diverse virtual spaces can cover every aspect of professional interaction. To begin with, the Lobby can be characterised as a welcoming gateway, helping attendees navigate the event. The Trade Show Area serves as an innovative exhibition hall for businesses to showcase their products and engage in discussions with other participants about their offered solutions.
The Conference Area replicates the experience of attending seminars and lectures, enhancing knowledge sharing. For formal meetings and collaborations, the Business Area provides the perfect setting, while the Social Area offers a relaxed setting for casual conversations. Together, these spaces create a comprehensive and immersive VR networking experience, that mimics the real-life spaces of in-person networking events.
Breaking Language Barriers with AI Translation
The human-to-human interaction of global networking events faces a significant challenge: the language barrier. AI-driven translation services are a game-changer in this aspect, especially in virtual environments. Real-time translation tools, integrated within the VR platform, enable seamless communication between participants speaking different languages, allowing for a truly global networking experience. This not only enhances understanding but also opens doors to cross-cultural collaborations that were previously hindered by language constraints.
The Smart AI-based Assistant
The human-to-machine interaction in VR spaces can be also enhanced by the AI-based assistant, a sophisticated tool designed to aid attendees as they navigate in the virtual environment. This intelligent agent provides real-time navigation instructions, ensuring that participants can move effortlessly between different areas of the event. Moreover, it offers detailed program information, helping attendees maximise their time by suggesting sessions
that align with their interests and professional goals. In addition, the AI assistant can provide comprehensive trade show information, from booth locations to exhibitor details, allowing users to strategically plan their visits.
Embracing the Future of Business Networking with VOXReality
The future of networking and engagement in virtual events lies in the harmonious integration and synergy of VR and AI. VOXReality project manages to enhance the virtual networking by creating immersive VR platform that mimic the real-life spaces of events.
Moreover, in this VR platform, the advanced AI-based VOXReality models have been integrated to provide real-time language translation and assistance, ensuring a smooth and inclusive experience for all participants. This intelligent system can facilitate cross-cultural engagement by overcoming language barriers and guide users through the virtual event space with ease. The result is a dynamic and accessible environment where every interaction is optimised, pushing business networking into a new era of global connectivity.
To conclude, as VR and AI technologies continue to evolve, they promise to make virtual networking more accessible, effective, and inclusive, transcending geographical and linguistic limitations. Together, in VOXReality project, we embrace these innovations and experience the future of professional networking.
Stavroula Bourou
Hi! My name is Stavroula Bourou and I am a Machine Learning Engineer. I received my Master of Engineering from National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) in 2015. Additionally, I hold a MSc Degree on Geoinformation Science with specialisation in Computer Vision from Technical University Berlin in 2019. Currently, I am involved in projects funded by the European Commission at Synelixis Solutions S.A. At VOXReality, my contributions include the development of a context-aware, AI-based dialogue system as well as the VR Conference use case
