VOXReality’s research has the potential to transform the future of virtual and hybrid events. As the demand for virtual events in XR environments grows, there is a need for innovative solutions that can provide a more natural and immersive experience for attendees. VOXReality’s research and development of new AI models to drive future language-driven interactive XR experiences has the potential to create more personal, natural and accessible event experiences and enhance attendee engagement and efficiency.
The COVID-19 pandemic spurred the rapid adoption of virtual events, as in-person gatherings became impossible or too risky. According to Grand View Research, the global virtual events market was valued at $78.6 billion in 2020, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.2% from 2021 to 2028.
While virtual events have provided a lifeline for businesses and organisations to continue their operations, one of the main challenges has been to recreate the same level of engagement, ease and interactivity as in-person events.
Virtual events have traditionally relied on XR (Extended Reality) technologies, such as VR (Virtual Reality), to provide immersive experiences. However, XR user interfaces are relatively new for many users who are not used to them like they are to many on-screen interfaces.
Also transferring from a screen to a 360 environment can be daunting for attendees. This means XR interfaces can feel complicated and need a longer onboarding process. This is where the potential of Voice Driven Interaction comes in.
Voice-driven interaction provides a more natural and human way of interacting with a system, making events hosted in XR spaces more personal and accessible to a wider audience. In this blog post we want to look ahead and explore the value VOXReality’s research findings/ results can present for future virtual and hybrid events.
Paving the way for experiencing events in XR
VOXReality’s goal is to conduct research and develop new AI models that can drive the future of XR interactive experiences. Their innovative models will address both human-to-human interaction in unidirectional (theatre) and bidirectional (conference) settings, as well as human-to-machine interaction by building the next generation of personal assistants. All elements that are set to play an important role in shaping the future of virtual and hybrid events.
More Personal and Accessible Events
The main benefits of using language as a core interaction medium in XR spaces, is that it makes events more personal and accessible. Attendees can use their voice to navigate the virtual environment, access information, and interact with other attendees, speakers, and exhibitors.
This creates a more natural and seamless experience that mimics in-person events, where people can communicate through speech and body language. Voice-Driven interaction also removes the need for complex XR interfaces that can be overwhelming or challenging to use for some attendees. By using voice-driven interaction, virtual events can become more inclusive and welcoming to a broader range of participants.
Improved Attendee Experience
VOXReality’s innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI) models are set to combine language in combination with visual understanding that deliver next-generation applications that provide comprehension of users goals, surrounding environment and context. This has the potential to significantly enhance the attendee experience as the system is better tuned into their needs and expectations.
Attendees can use their voice to perform various actions, such as asking questions, participating in polls, or even controlling the environment. For example, imagine attending a virtual trade show and being able to say, “Hey, show me the new products from Company X.” to your own personal virtual assistant. The system could then display relevant information or even take you to the Company X virtual booth.
Voice-Driven Interaction allows attendees to engage with the event on a deeper level, leading to more meaningful interactions and better networking opportunities.
Increased Efficiency and Engagement
Finally, Voice-Driven Interaction in XR spaces can also increase efficiency and engagement. Attendees can use their voice to perform tasks quickly and easily, without the need for extensive navigation or typing. This gives them more freedom to focus their attention on the content of the conference and interacting with other attendees than on solving technical issues and figuring out how the interface works. This can lead to more productive and dynamic discussions, ultimately enhancing the value of the event for everyone involved.
Future Use Cases
All set to take virtual events to a new level. In order to do so, VOXReality will be testing three particular use cases of the project at Immersive Tech Week 2023. These use cases are: Digital Agents, Virtual Conferencing and Theatre. Stay tuned to find out more details on what these use cases are and how they will impact our experience of virtual events.
Regina Van Tongeren
Hi, I'm Regina, Head of Marketing at VRDays Foundation. I help organise Immersive Tech Week in Rotterdam, a festival that brings together diverse voices to celebrate and explore immersive technologies' potential for a better world. I've always loved how films and games create new worlds and realities through stories, and I am fascinated by how immersive technologies are changing storytelling.
With a background in the games industry and teaching marketing, I believe immersive tech will revolutionise brand experiences, and I am curious to see the possibilities they offer for events. As a marketeer at Immersive Tech Week, I am passionate about bringing as many people as possible from all backgrounds and walks of life to Rotterdam so they can discover, experience and think about these new technologies.
