The Future of Virtual Events: Together Apart With XR
Since the onset of COVID-19, event professionals have scrambled to pivot elaborate tangible experiences into virtual versions consumed from home. For better or for worse, the event industry as we know it isn’t coming back - at least not any time soon. And when things eventually (and we do mean eventually) return to “normal,” the mandate for digital integration is going to stick around.
With the industry making this pivot in real-time as new solutions hit the market and continue to be beta tested on willing participants, we’ve got our eye on XR. If you’re new to the tech space, XR is an umbrella term meaning “extended reality”. It encompasses AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality) - both of which have some exciting developments brewing that have become major players in the event space, especially now that the pandemic has been in full swing for over 6 months. Here’s a look at why we think virtual reality is the future of “together”:
Mainstream Adoption
The Oculus Quest 2 from Facebook
Facebook recently launched the Oculus Quest 2, and currently has the “Venues” feature in beta. Here’s what you need to know:
The Oculus Quest 2 is expected to broaden the user base for virtual reality significantly. They’ve dropped the base price of the headset by $100 just in time for VR newbies to get in on the action for the holiday season. While there have been widespread concerns amongst long time VR enthusiasts about Oculus now requiring a Facebook account for use and some red flags hidden in the terms & conditions, overall this is an exciting time for the virtual reality world. Facebook & Oculus are looking to get the events industry fired up too, with the “Venues” feature (currently still in Beta). It’s promising users they’ll “Feel the energy of attending live events from the best seat in the house…”, adding that “…Your Facebook login is an all-access pass to concerts, sports, comedy, and more.” This means you can expect to attend concerts, music festivals, and the likes - right from home with your headset. When you couple consumers’ growing boredom with the “instagrammable” pop-up event format and the pandemic, VR comes at the perfect moment, offering something both new and safe. Learn more about what Facebook and Oculus are doing with the Venues platform HERE.
Integrated AR Capabilities
Wayfair AR allows you to see furniture in your space before purchasing.
With Apple’s 2020 release of new products, the company has been touting the built-in LiDAR technology on the iPad Pro 2020 and iPhone 12. Here’s why that’s important for you:
LiDAR technology (Light Detection and Ranging) is the tech used to map out spaces in 3D, and is a huge component in augmented reality experiences (think Pokemón Go, where you point your phone at an empty space and something appears as if it were there - also seen on furniture websites like IKEA that allow you to view a piece in your home before purchasing). With LiDAR tech built straight into newer mobile devices, AR is primed to take off significantly in the near future, and you can expect to be able to interact with objects through your mobile device that will have seemingly been placed right into your home. There’s still a world of possibility to be explored here, but keep your eye on LiDAR technology and AR integrations beyond snapchat filters in 2021. You can read more about iPhone and LiDAR HERE.
So…. What Now?
Here at Everyday Experiential, our core belief will always be in the transformative power of tangible spaces and events. But we’re extremely excited about the future of events and different ways technology will be integrated into those in-person experiences moving forward. We’ve been messing around behind the scenes with the possibilities that exist in XR, but on a smaller scale because we also believe in accessibility, and not everyone can get their hands on a $300 headset or $1,000+ mobile device.
Be sure to sign up for our mailing list to start receiving newsletters about all of the exciting developments we’ve got in the works for 2021! Until then, please consume your technology responsibly, and be mindful in your everyday experiences.
XO
Joanna