Industry Reports

“The Future of Business Travel” Report by Booking.com Gives Metaverse Predictions

augmented reality, featured, Industry Reports, metaverse, Tourism & Travel, travel, virtual reality / Rejus Almole / July 25, 2023

The metaverse can be summed up as the augmented world. So, naturally, it has implications for travel. How and when people travel may both seriously change as spatial communication and digital twins make some kinds of travel less likely, while AR and automation reimagine the travel that we do engage in. A report by Booking.com for Business, titled “The Future of Business Travel” explores the next 30 years of travel.

AR and Space Hotels

The report begins with “A Timeline of Future Business Travel Predictions.” To the potential dismay of augmented reality enthusiasts, the report puts AR in 2027 – the same year as “space hotels”. The report acknowledges existing AR use cases including augmenting areas with contextual information. However, the authors are waiting for something better.

“Right now, AR is limited, lacking a wide field-of-view and having resolution, battery, and 3D sensing issues,” reads the report. “It’s thought that by 2027 people will have access to unconstrained, immersive AR experiences and the associated advantages for travel professionals.”

Why 2027? The paper doesn’t explicitly mention powerful AR wearables, but the time frame and their insistence on “unconstrained” experiences suggest that this is what the authors are waiting for. We already have consumer AR glasses, with limited FoV, but these are almost exclusively “viewers” for virtual screens that can’t offer the real-time contextual information people want.

In a recent interview with ARPost Lumus VP of Optics David Goldman placed a consumer AR device based on Z-Lens around 2025, with 2027 seeing models with 50-degree FoV eventually getting as wide as 70 or 80 degrees. That sounds like it’s getting more in line with people’s expectations for AR travel.

More Interest in VR?

Augmented travel is one thing, but virtual travel is another. Virtual reality has higher immersion due to a heads-up interface, greater graphical fidelity, and wider field of view. Further, VR hardware is becoming increasingly accessible, affordable, and popular with consumers.

The report also included a collection of the most-searched business travel trends, which included virtual travel in the top three. A ranking of the most talked about travel trends in the media also includes “hotel metaverse” at number three and “hotel virtual events” at number eight.

The authors attribute this to virtual travel “reducing the necessary number of business trips and giving corporate travelers the chance to explore the world with VR and metaverse experience.” Specific use cases anticipated in the report include immersive tours prior to booking, virtual conferences and events, virtual site visits to digital twins, and immersive in-flight entertainment.

More to the Metaverse

Immersive technology is first in our minds and hearts here at ARPost, but the metaverse is about more than just display technologies. The report also includes predictions related to other emerging technologies including artificial intelligence and blockchain.

For example, the authors predict blockchain technology becoming standard in hotels the year before they anticipate AR kicking off. And, around the beginning of the next decade, the authors predict “guest comfort and energy efficiency will be managed and optimized by AI in most hotels.”

Other predictions, including hotel-specific crypto-driven rewards programs and robot assistants, can be found in the full report.

A Lot to Look Forward To

All predictions should be taken with a healthy dose of salt – and that’s particularly true of predictions based on when to expect a given development. Disclaimers aside, Booking.com has presented a very interesting look at trends regarding what people want out of the metaverse when it comes to travel.

“The Future of Business Travel” Report by Booking.com Gives Metaverse Predictions Read More »

XRA’s XR Industry Report: 2022 Highlights and Plans for 2023 and Beyond

extended reality, featured, Industry Reports / Paul Patrick / March 16, 2023

With over 45 member companies representing the XR industry, the XR Association (XRA) has led the way in accelerating the growth and adoption of virtual, augmented, and mixed reality technology.

Recently, it released its annual “State of the Industry Report”, highlighting key developments and milestones in 2022 and sharing a glimpse of what’s in store for the industry in the next few years. The report showcases the growing ecosystem of companies involved in immersive technologies and their commitment to innovation, safety, and user experience.

“Looking at 2022, I am amazed to see all that XRA and the industry have accomplished, including the rollout of enterprise metaverse solutions to drive meaningful global staff engagements, previews of photorealistic avatars for consumers, the development of effective beta programming for accessibility features in VR and AR and our Developers Guide on XR in Secondary Education,” said Stephanie Montgomery, XRA’s SVP of Research and Best Practices. “Students in the classroom are using XR to learn everything from Greek mythology to microbiology. All of these and more are driving real efficiencies and bottom-line savings for consumers and corporations.”

Unlocked: Milestones and Achievements of Top Companies in the XR Industry

The report recognized several member companies for their outstanding contributions to the industry and the milestones they have achieved in the past year. This includes noteworthy industry firsts such as GameDriver’s out-of-the-box automated testing solution, and Big Rock Creative’s VR-only comic book convention. Transfr was also recognized for using VR training to enhance workforce development in areas such as career exploration in Alabama, Indiana, and Montana, and electrician training.

2022 also saw much progress in the immersive technology space, with several product launches that showcased new use cases for emerging technologies. Meta unveiled its Infinite Display system for VR Optics and the Meta Quest Pro with full-color mixed reality, while Google announced the launch of Immersive View for Maps and other updates aimed to make search and maps more immersive. HTC launched VIVERSE, their metaverse platform that aims to create positive experiences that benefit every user. Sony also unveiled its new PlayStation VR headset.

Investments in new initiatives signify confidence in the industry and create much room for growth. Talespin announced a $20M Series C funding round. Accenture invested in both Talespin and Strivr to help advance immersive learning and enterprise VR. They also invested in BehaVR to expand VR-based mental and behavioral healthcare access.

XRA Impact: Areas Where XR Made an Impact in 2022

Aside from milestones and member achievements, XRA also made a significant impact across and beyond the XR industry. XRA held 100+ speaking events and major conferences worldwide to promote XR adoption. It also celebrated the leaders across the XR industry for their achievements as part of its Limitless Voices Initiative.

XRA’s impact also extends to politics, as it plays a significant role in shaping legislation that would affect the XR industry. It helped push the recent passage of the CHIPS and Science Act which includes provisions that support the research and development of XR technology.

The XR Association also introduced the National XR Month Resolution and the XR Workforce bill. According to Joan O’Hara, XRA’s SVP of Public Policy, “2022 was truly a banner year for XRA Policy. Our mission is to educate lawmakers, thought leaders, and the public about XR technology’s positive impact on society and to influence the development of the laws and regulations that will shape its future.”

2022 also marked the launch of the XR for All Foundation, its social responsibility arm formed to engage and support diverse communities and open career opportunities in the immersive technology industry. Through collaboration with experts from the academe, industry, and government, XRA is expected to continue developing best practices and guidelines for the industry.

Look Ahead: XR’s Transformative Role

In 2023 and beyond, XRA is committed to promoting the responsible development and use of immersive technology. The association will continue supporting beneficial legislation, introducing new initiatives, and supporting its members in developing innovative XR solutions that transform how users engage with different immersive experiences.

“Our main priority is ensuring that all members, big and small, can reap the incredible benefits of our stakeholder engagement and legislative efforts,” said Liz Hyman, CEO of XRA. “As this vital industry continues its expansion into workplace training and safety, healthcare, and education, we must work together to build, shape, and navigate the larger technology landscape.”

A Positive Outlook for the Future of the XR Industry

Overall, the XRA State of the Industry Report offers a positive outlook for the future of the XR industry. Aside from providing a comprehensive overview of the key developments and achievements in the industry, it also highlights XRA’s commitment to promoting the responsible development and use of immersive technology.

XRA also reaffirms its role in leading the way to the continued growth and development of AR, VR, and MR technologies. Indeed, with its diverse and growing membership base, the XR Association is well-positioned to drive innovation and transformation across various industries in the coming years.

XRA’s XR Industry Report: 2022 Highlights and Plans for 2023 and Beyond Read More »

GDC 2023 State of the Game Industry Report Includes Insights Into VR and AR

AR development, AR games, developers, featured, Games, gaming, Industry Reports, VR development, VR games / Rejus Almole / January 30, 2023

Games are the largest use case for consumer VR and AR. While VR and AR remain a comparatively small segment of the games industry, the industry is taking notice as VR hardware in particular improves. This presents possibilities for new kinds of games but also promises to breathe new life into established franchises.

The GDC’s State of the Game Industry Report for this year is by no means dedicated to VR and AR. However, it does hold insights into how this segment of the industry is growing and changing. This includes insights into larger emerging technology trends like Web3 and the metaverse.

VR and AR in the Larger Games Industry

This GDC survey, the 11th in an annual series, found that “the metaverse has become more than a buzzword.” That doesn’t mean that VR and AR are now the driving force in the games industry.

In terms of which platforms developers are building for, VR headsets land in 10th place with 12% of respondents. AR landed in 14th place with 4% of respondents. When asked which platforms developers are building their next project for, VR headsets remained in 10th place with 12%, but AR moved up to 11th place with 5%.

GDC State of the Game Industry 2023 - platforms developers are building for — *Source: GDC State of the Game Industry 2023*

PC leads the pack, with the intervening platforms consisting of the usual suspects – legacy gaming platforms and mobile. However, this may be changing in the near future.

When asked which platforms developers are most interested in, 23% of respondents said VR, pushing the platform to 6th place, ahead of Android, Mac, and Xbox One. Similarly, 12% responded with AR, placing it in 11th place ahead of PS4 and web browsers.

GDC State of the Game Industry 2023 - which platform most interests game developers — *Source: GDC State of the Game Industry 2023*

So, while we might not see a boom period for VR and AR games in the immediate future, it’s increasingly on the radar of game developers. This trend looks like it could be setting up growth in this aspect of the industry within the next few years.

That said, last year’s big metaverse hype may have led to increased expectations for the cycle we’re in now. Last year, 42% of respondents said that they were actively involved in VR and AR game development. Now that number is at 38%, closer to where it was in 2021.

Platform Wars Within VR

So, of the developers that are working in VR and AR gaming, what platforms are they working on?

When asked which platform their next game will release on, 36% responded with Quest meaning Quest 2. An additional 10% responded with “Project Cambria” – the Quest Pro which had not yet been released at the time of the survey. A further 10% responded with Rift, Meta’s now discontinued line of tethered PC VR headsets.

GDC State of the Game Industry 2023 - VR and AR platforms developers are building games for — *Source: GDC State of the Game Industry 2023*

It is worth noting that the percentage of respondents working with Quest has gone up almost 10% since last year. That in itself is not necessarily surprising if not for the fact that the overall number of VR and AR game developers has gone down.

Interestingly, the runner-up is the as-yet-unreleased PlayStation VR 2 with 18%, followed by the HTC VIVE ecosystem at 15%. A further 12% responded with Apple’s ARKit, and another 9% responded with Android’s ARCore. There was also a potentially unexpected write-in entry.

“A handful of respondents shared that they were developing games for Pico, a platform that was not on the survey list,” the report offers. In some geographical markets, the Pico 4, which was announced shortly before the Quest Pro, is a significant potential Quest Pro competitor. However, Pico Interactive does not currently offer consumer support in the US.

Gaming in the Metaverse?

“The concept of the metaverse continues to pick up steam in the game industry, as new and existing companies alike move to secure funding, spin up projects, and develop new technology,” reads the survey. However, like VR and AR gaming, this news comes with a grain of salt and some more sober attitudes since last year.

Nearly half of the respondents didn’t select any of the survey’s platform options. They instead said that “the metaverse concept will never deliver on its promise.” This occurred last year as well when around a third of respondents said that the metaverse will never materialize.

From a VR and AR perspective, it gets worse. More developers said that Fortnite would become the model metaverse platform than Horizon Worlds. This isn’t bad news because Horizon Worlds is better than Fortnite, it’s bad news because Horizon Worlds is VR and Fortnite isn’t. In fact, many of the more popular “metaverse” contenders are flat platforms.

GDC 2023 State of the Game Industry - Metaverse promise — *Source: GDC State of the Game Industry 2023*

And it gets worse. “Microsoft/Minecraft” came in a distant third place with 7% of respondents choosing them as the model metaverse. This presumably included AltspaceVR. As this article was being written, it was announced that AltspaceVR is coming to an end.

A Note on Blockchain

ARPost is not explicitly interested in blockchain but as a potential pillar of both the metaverse and the future of gaming, it shouldn’t be inappropriate to share some of the survey’s findings in this field. And, if you aren’t explicitly interested in blockchain either, the survey results should please you.

When asked about their interest in blockchain integration in games, 23% of respondents said that they were “very interested” or “somewhat interested”, with 75% saying that they were not interested at all. The remaining 2% are using blockchain in games already, with blockchain being the principal monetization strategy of around 4% of games.

Interest in blockchain is down slightly from last year, but, according to the report, most respondents were against blockchain last year as well and simply haven’t changed their minds.

GDC State of the Game Industry 2023 - blockchain in game industry — *Source: GDC State of the Game Industry 2023*

“Many developers said there could be a valuable place for blockchain technology in video games in the future,” the report explains. “Others said that the risks outweigh the benefits and that existing technologies serve similar purposes that negate the need for blockchain.”

A Maturing Industry

If you thought that the gaming industry was moving a little too fast last year, you were right. Metaverse hype driven by hardware expectations and blockchain buzz may have led to a brief, hard burn in the industry. It now seems that a small correction has taken place but the VR and AR games industry is settling in for longer-term development.

For the full picture of the whole gaming industry, find the complete report here.

GDC 2023 State of the Game Industry Report Includes Insights Into VR and AR Read More »

XRA Survey: Teachers Pin Hopes on XR for Better Classroom Engagement

augmented reality, education, Education & Training, extended reality, Industry Reports, learning, study, virtual reality, XR Association / Rejus Almole / January 6, 2023

Incorporating XR—the umbrella term for virtual, augmented, and mixed reality—in classroom education can make learning more fun. It can also motivate students to take their studies more seriously. A recent survey by XR Association (XRA) and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) presented this conclusion based on a poll of over 1,400 high school teachers across 50 US states. Let’s look at the survey results.

Optimism High for XR’s Classroom Use

Foremost of the highlights in the nationwide poll was the finding that 77% of educators believe in the power of extended reality to ignite curiosity and engagement in class. This is especially important given that student motivation and morale are reported to have dropped in the 2020-2021 school year.

As Sean Wybrant, a computer science teacher at Colorado Spring’s William J. Palmer High School, put it: “Imagine how much better a student will understand what happens in Othello if they could actually step into the play and see it. Imagine how much better we could tell historical narratives if we could put people in recreations of famous situations based on documentation of those time periods.”

Secondly, XR doesn’t only make students eager to learn. Seventy-seven percent of teachers also see its potential in spurring interaction and building empathy among classmates. XRA says in its report that creating immersive worlds allows students to exchange ideas and understand each other in new ways.

Thirdly, 67% of respondents agree with XRA’s advocacy to incorporate extended reality technology into the curricula. Educators teaching the following subjects believe that course-specific XR experiences would be beneficial for students:

Earth sciences (94%)
Physics and space science (91%)
Math (89%)
English language (86%)
World languages (87%)
History and social studies (90%)
Social sciences (91%)
Computer science (91%)
Visual and performing arts (91%)
Physical education (88%)
Career and technical education (91%)

“To get a good sense of XR’s potential in schools, you have to ask the teachers and staff who will be administering this technology,” said Stephanie Montgomery, the XRA Vice President of Research and Best Practices. “The survey’s results suggest that VR, AR, and MR technology is well-positioned to become an essential teaching tool in school classrooms across the country.”

At the same time, 58% of the survey respondents said that teachers should get training for XR classroom use. Moreover, 62% believe in developing XR standards before integrating the technologies into regular curricula.

XR Association CEO Elizabeth Hyman believes in the extensive ripple effect that will result from making educators XR-ready. “If teachers understand XR technology and are empowered to contribute to the way in which it is incorporated into the curriculum, everyone—students, their guardians, and the surrounding community—will be able to take advantage of its benefits,” she said.

However, despite the positive outlook, 57% of teachers recognize the costs of using AR and VR devices and admit that access to funds will determine access to such technology. Nevertheless, poll participants believe XR’s benefits will extend beyond the classroom. Seventy-seven percent of teachers said the technology helps equip students with skills they can apply in their chosen careers, especially since, according to forecasts, jobs in extended reality may reach 23 million by 2030.

Myths About XR Classroom Use Debunked

The XRA-ISTE survey dispelled several myths about extended reality’s acceptance in education. One of these misconceptions is that XR is only for gaming. The poll results and teachers’ comments reveal that they are aware of the usefulness of this technology in geography, math, history, and other subjects.

Moreover, the survey response from educators refutes the popular notion that XR technology would not be the “best fit” for the classroom. Seventy-eight percent of respondents believe in the benefits of extended reality technologies in class.

Finally, the belief that XR will distract students from learning only got a 15% vote among the survey participants. The majority support the opportunities that come with extended reality when incorporated into lessons.

Teens Excited About XR

Earlier last year, XRA also conducted a separate survey that sought teens’ views on current use cases for XR and their expectations for this technology. The results released in May 2022 revealed that 40% of teens have used either AR or VR in school and 50% describe their experience with these technologies as positive. Thirty-eight percent would like to own a headset in the future.

Even though there are potential concerns around immersive technologies, which teens are aware of, they are still excited about using XR in education, in a responsible way. Almost 4 in 5 teens think extended reality can impact lives positively. They believe that XR can improve their lives in the areas of fun (67%), creativity (61%), and learning (48%). Moreover, 52% of respondents expressed interest in taking a college course with extended reality integrated into its curriculum.

Read the Latest Addition to the XRA Developers’ Guide

XRA is proactively advancing XR application in classroom learning. It recently launched a new chapter in its Developers Guide on designing immersive lessons for high schoolers. The fresh chapter discusses current classroom needs, successful use cases, and industry-backed best practices for promoting safe and inclusive classroom learning through extended reality that addresses parent, teacher, and student concerns.

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UC Berkeley Releases Report on Safety in Social VR

featured, Industry Reports, metaverse, safety, Social VR / Rejus Almole / December 22, 2022

We’d all like to be safe in social VR experiences. Barring the human race one day waking up and unanimously deciding to be decent to one another, how might this future come about? One potential solution is robust, clear, accessible community guidelines from platforms. But, what might those look like?

VR researcher Rafi Lazerson recently published a paper with the University of California Berkeley’s Center for Long-Term Cyber Security, titled “A Secure and Equitable Metaverse: Designing Effective Community Guidelines for Social VR.” The paper breaks down what harms can look like in social VR environments as well as what shape community guidelines for those environments should look like to prevent and address those harms.

Learning From the Past?

The paper’s introduction presents a provocative question:

“Will social VR platforms proactively develop clear community guidelines at this early stage of user adoption, or will their process follow the slow, opaque, and reactive trajectories that were typical of 2D social media platforms?”

The paper draws on industry and academic research, academic literature, media reports, and the existing community guidelines of both 2D and VR social platforms. It takes a particularly close look at Meta’s guidelines for both its 2D and its social VR experiences. This is a handy example but it also comes with a message to Meta:

“Well-funded corporations have a disproportionate impact on the formation of the metaverse and on norms within social VR, and therefore have a responsibility to lead the industry in developing responsible policies and practices.”

Harms in Social VR

“Embodiment removes the sense of separation and distinction between the user and the avatar, contributing to interactions between the users that feel real and present,” wrote Lazerson. “To the user, any VR world, even the fantastical, can feel real and present due to avatar embodiment, world-immersion, and synchronous conduct-based interactions.”

This won’t present an entirely new idea to most readers, but it is central to this work in particular and to this whole body of work. It means that misconduct can be more difficult to identify because it might not be recorded in the way that most social media interactions are. It also means that the interactions are worth taking seriously even though they happen in a “game.”

“Experiences of harassment in VR have been described as comparable to in-person harassment,” wrote Lazerson. “As haptic gloves, suits, and other VR immersion hardware become a common part of VR use, experiences of harassment may feel increasingly indistinguishable from in-person harassment.”

What’s more than that, many of the forms of harassment that we know and hate from traditional social media – based on race, religion, gender, and other factors – are already being reported in VR even to such a degree that some users report hiding aspects of their identities in order to avoid it. The problem compounds as immersive tech is increasingly used for work and wellness.

“The inability of some users to present as themselves in or even enter into social VR without fear could have severe health and economic ramifications,” wrote Lazerson.

So, how do we preserve these environments as safe spaces for everyone?

Effective Community Guidelines

According to Lazerson, effective community safety practices consist of three main components:

Policy
- External communication of expectations to users;
- Internal communication of policies to moderators;
Product
- User tools;
- Moderator tools;
- Educational tools;
- Invisible safety tools (age-gating of select experiences, etc.).
Operations
- The means by which policy is enforced through product.

It can be difficult for anyone other than a platform maintainer or moderator to see all of these pieces working together or to gauge how effective they are. However, one item on that list, outward-facing policy, is easy to see. So, how do Meta’s community guidelines work as a model for social VR experiences generally?

Are Meta’s Social VR Guidelines Sufficient?

A theme throughout this paper – and the realm of metaverse safety generally – is that immersive platforms can learn from conventional social media while recognizing that immersive content is different and accommodating those differences. According to Lazerson, one of Meta’s biggest problems may be that its immersive policies don’t come with Facebook’s existing safeguards.

“There is no single list of public-facing community guidelines for users to follow in Meta’s social VR. There are at least two, perhaps three: the Horizon Policy, the Conduct in VR Policy, and possibly the Facebook Community Standards,” Lazerson wrote. “There is a significant amount of ambiguity regarding where each of the aforementioned Meta community guidelines applies in VR.”

Lazerson isn’t only here to criticize. He closes the paper with recommendations to all immersive platforms. These include accessible, transparent, specific, and comprehensive guidelines using existing social media guidelines as a “baseline.” He also recommends platforms work with each other on policy “to ensure that no forms of harm are overlooked.”

For full recommendations, find the full report available for free here.

Be Good

It’s unfortunate that we need things like community guidelines – long documents detailing ways that people aren’t allowed to be mean to each other. Ideally, immersive worlds would play out like the world that we live in – in which most people are just impulsively decent to one another.

But, for whatever reason, social VR can be an uncomfortable space. It also has great beauty and can be a place where we share knowledge, experience, and just have fun. It’s up to each of us to help bring out the best in this medium. So read the guidelines, follow them, encourage others to follow them, and encourage your favorite platform to use them well.

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Perkins Coie Releases 6th Annual Industry Report on Immersive Technology

extended reality, featured, Immersive Technology, Industry Reports, metaverse, trending, Web3 / Rejus Almole / December 21, 2022

The sixth annual Perkins Coie XR Report is out. The theme: “The Rise of Web3 Technologies to Accelerate XR.” While some people are skeptical of some of the goings-on in Web3, new ideas about connecting people are putting immersive technology into a context that highlights its value.

Is Web3 the Same as the Metaverse?

So far, ARPost has been largely silent on the idea of “Web3” because it brings in a lot of ideas that aren’t really central to immersive technology while not necessarily bringing in the immersive technology itself. For a quick and dirty shortcut, some people define the metaverse as “the next generation of the internet” and that’s exactly what Web3 means.

However, the metaverse movement is more focused on spatial computing while the Web3 movement is more focused on the mechanics of publication and ownership. So, the two aren’t necessarily mutually exclusive, but they are also not exactly the same thing. This issue was addressed in the report’s executive statement both as it benefits and potentially harms XR:

“Accelerated by . . . the emergence of NextGen technologies like Web3 and the metaverse, XR has hit the mainstream. Yet, new audiences, technologies, and products bring new challenges. When we add in the economic volatility that has at least temporarily affected many in the tech industry, the question becomes: What does the future have in store for XR?”

Overall, almost all of the respondents (significantly more than last year) expect to see growth in the immersive technology market, but the growth that they expect to see is more modest. Just under half of all respondents expect widespread adoption of the metaverse and Web3 in the next five years.

Insights on Investment

More people talking at a more reasonable volume was a trend in this year’s report. For example, 70% of respondents said that they would increase spending on XR for remote collaboration and training “to a moderate extent.” Last year, 51% said that they would increase this category of spending “to a large extent.”

Another 36% of respondents said that they expected the pace of investment to be “slightly higher” this year, while 32% percent expected that it would stay the same. This is significantly lower than the numbers for a similar question in last year’s survey.

Given otherwise growing positive sentiment, this might be less a reflection on immersive technology and more a reflection on the current state of the economy. Not only is the enterprise world increasingly returning to something like normal in terms of how internal communication happens, but rising costs in other sectors may lead to decreasing experimental budgets.

There are also remaining barriers to adoption of immersive technology.

Barriers to Adopting Immersive Technology

“Roughly half of respondents named user experience (e.g. bulky headwear and technical glitches) and content offering (e.g. lack of quality content) as barriers to mass adoption,” says the report. “Respondents expressed less concern on these fronts than they did in 2021, indicating that they perceive that the industry is making substantial progress.”

Respondents also said that improving data security, improving infrastructure, and improving affordability could all help to attract more consumers. Respondents also revisited one of the most interesting portions of last year’s report: the question of whether consumers or developers have a better understanding of compelling content when it comes to immersive technology.

This year, 43% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that developers “do not yet understand what makes compelling content from a consumer standpoint” while 46% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that consumers don’t understand where or how to find compelling content. Both of these numbers are down from last year.

“Respondents’ top recommendations [for improving immersive technology content] were the same as in 2021: Produce more interactive and immersive content (52%), as well as content that is compatible across platforms (49%).”

Who Benefits (Really)?

One of the biggest questions around emerging technology is who stands to benefit the most. At least right now, when we’re still early and a lot of buy-in is relatively high, it stands to reason that “high-income individuals” are most likely to benefit. This was the top answer (58%) when respondents were polled about who benefits the most from XR and NextGen technology.

While a handful of tech companies are wooing consumers, a great deal of the energy in the space is directed toward enterprise. Desk workers are having meetings in VR, deskless workers are benefiting from AR-enabled remote assistance. So, it may not be surprising that half of the respondents listed working professionals as among those most likely to benefit.

So, we have an understanding of who is benefiting. But, who is really benefiting? Many in the emerging technology space are concerned that the market may be perpetuating some classic workplace problems, like the exclusion of women and marginalized racial or ethnic groups. Fortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the case.

Just over half of the 150 respondents identified as being from minority/female-owned organizations. Of those respondents, nearly 80% agreed or strongly agreed that “funding for such founders is proportional to their white male peers.”

More People Talking

For much of XR’s history, a lot of the most meaningful sentiment has come from a fairly small number of people with particularly strong feelings.

One of the key takeaways of this report was that, while the immersive technology space still has its zealots, more people are warming up to the technology. This is potentially a huge sign of market maturity, even if it’s not the most exciting headline.

Perkins Coie Releases 6th Annual Industry Report on Immersive Technology Read More »

Report: Commercial Real Estate Virtual Tours to Be the Norm in the Near Future

featured, Industry Reports, real estate, report, study, virtual reality / Mike M. / December 9, 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic turned almost all business activities from in-person to remote. Using video conferences, as well as new technologies, such as AR and VR, businesses continued to operate. One of the things that proved extremely effective were the real estate virtual tours, enhanced by AR/VR features. In fact, they were so effective that virtual tours are set to be the norm in the commercial real estate sector in the future.

These are the findings of a report published by Resonai, a software company that develops solutions transforming physical spaces into smart digital environments. Some of the applications developed by Resonai help facility management and commercial real estate companies provide enhanced experiences to employees and customers.

Resonai Report: 90% of Real Estate Tours Will Be Virtual

In the survey “The State of Virtual Tours in Commercial Real Estate”, Resonai collected data from 300 commercial real estate professionals in July 2022. The survey focused on the use of real estate virtual tours during the pandemic and the plans to continue using them in the future.

The findings published in the real estate virtual tours report indicate that the commercial sector will not return to traditional property tours. Namely:

90% of commercial property tours will be virtual in the next 2 years;
90% of commercial realtors who used virtual real estate tours reported an increase in revenue;
86% of real estate companies generating between $50 and $500 million in revenue use virtual tours.

Real Estate Virtual Tours Improve Brand Perception

Using new technologies equals a better brand image. At least, this is one of the opinions of the real estate professionals who participated in the Resonai survey. In fact, 95% of them believe that virtual real estate tours help improve brand perception.

At the same time, these hi-tech remote tours help with prospect qualification. The survey found an 85% improvement in this respect, compared to in-person tours. Also, the prospects who took part in a virtual tour reported a superior viewing experience (92%). Overall, the use of tours enhanced by AR and VR helped real estate professionals work more efficiently and increase their revenues.

Large Companies Have Higher Virtual Tour Adoption Rates

According to the report, 86% of organizations generating between $50 million and $500 million, and 79% of those generating more than $500 million in revenue use real estate virtual tours. The adoption rate of virtual tours among companies with less than $50 million in revenue is lower (69%), though still noteworthy.

Reasonai real estate virtual tours report - Adoption by revenue — *Source: Resonai survey “The State of Virtual Tours in Commercial Real Estate”*

When it comes to differences between commercial real estate industry segments, the survey found that the real estate segment that’s making the most use of virtual tours is hospitality (93%), followed by industrial real estate (84%).

Reasonai real estate virtual tours report - Adoption by category — *Source: Resonai survey “The State of Virtual Tours in Commercial Real Estate”*

What Are the Barriers to Adoption?

Some real estate professionals stated that the companies they work for have not yet adopted real estate virtual tours. Moreover, there are no plans of doing so in the near future.

The main reasons for this attitude towards new tech in real estate are:

28% – lack of consideration;
18% – not necessary;
15% – no value to prospects;
15% – lack of resources.

Some respondents also stated that AR/VR technology is too complex to implement and use.

On the other hand, the report identified marketing improvement, better viewing experience, the ability to offer remote building tours, and building a positive brand image as the most important benefits that drive the adoption of real estate virtual tours.

Reasonai real estate virtual tours report - Top reasons for implementing virtual tours — *Source: Resonai survey “The State of Virtual Tours in Commercial Real Estate”*

How AR/VR Can Enhance Real Estate Tours

The findings of the Resonai report indicate that the commercial real estate industry is already familiar with AR/VR technology and plans to continue using it as one of the main tools. Real estate virtual tours offer benefits both for realtors and for prospects.

Some of these benefits are:

Ability to create custom property presentations by adding AR content onto real-world environments;
Flexibility – virtual real estate tours can be delivered by desktop, laptop, mobile phone, or tablet;
Live or recorded – depending on the prospect’s schedule, they can participate in a real-time tour or watch a recorded tour;
Ability to visualize work in progress using VR models.

Report: Commercial Real Estate Virtual Tours to Be the Norm in the Near Future Read More »

ExpressVPN Survey Explores Immersive Tech in the Workplace

business, featured, Immersive Technology, Industry Reports, metaverse, Mixed Reality, remote work, safety / Rejus Almole / November 30, 2022

ExpressVPN has conducted a survey of 1,500 employees and 1,500 employers to learn about attitudes toward immersive work. Remote collaboration has been one of the biggest promises of immersive technology as it relates to work but employers seem to be more excited than employees. One potential reason: surveillance fears.

Who Wants to Work in the Metaverse?

Remote work was already trending upward before the pandemic. However, as more and more offices closed, remote work started to seem like part of the “new normal.” It was also an explosive opportunity for the immersive tech industry with many promoting the metaverse as the new office water cooler.

While immersive tech gained some traction during this period, video conferencing remains the standard alternative to in-person meetings. About a third of employees and almost as many employers who participated in the survey prefer video conferencing to in-person meetings.

As for immersive meetings, 17% of employers and only 9% of employees surveyed preferred them over other communication methods. So, metaverse was less popular than in-person meetings, video conferencing, instant messaging, and email among employees, but more popular than social media, phone calls, and project management platforms.

On the other hand, it’s interesting that metaverse was the second-preferred method of communication among employers, with video conferencing being the top pick.

Which communication method makes you feel most connected and engaged with your co-workers — *Source: ExpressVPN*

Why Not Bring Immersive Tech Into the Workplace?

Why the low numbers among employees? First, they aren’t that low. After all, project management platforms were literally designed for remote collaboration, and immersive tech beat them out. And better than the telephone? That’s pretty good for an emerging technology.

Another potential explanation is that most people still haven’t tried an immersive meeting. The survey report didn’t ask (or didn’t include) how many people have experienced a meeting in the metaverse.

While virtual office meetings are becoming more common, they’re still not part of most people’s work week. Further, these platforms are improving but a lot still have hiccups. Even those that work as intended aren’t what most people are used to, which can lead to a learning curve if not plain old friction.

However, the study also found that over half (57%) of polled employees and over three-quarters (77%) of polled employers are interested in immersive work. So, while not all employees are already convinced, a good number of them are at least curious.

There’s still one more reason that employees in particular aren’t sold on the metaverse for meetings. It’s actually a concern that they already have about more conventional remote work solutions.

Surveillance of employees working remotely is already fairly common practice, particularly in large businesses. Immersive technology platforms, particularly those incorporating VR hardware, offer more opportunities for surveillance. Employees seem largely convinced that more opportunity means more abuse.

Sixty-three percent of employees are concerned about data collection, and 61% about being monitored by their employer in the metaverse.

More than half of surveyed employees responded that they’re concerned specifically about real-time location (51%) and real-time screen monitoring (50%). To be fair, under 40% of employers surveyed said that they intended to use emerging technologies in these ways.

Okay, Boomer

Digging too deep into what these numbers mean can be tricky for one more reason. Zany demographic information. Specifically, Boomers. To understand how confusing their responses are, one other piece of demographic information is required: Gen Z is typically the most supportive and least skeptical about the metaverse.

Boomers are the second most curious about the metaverse – they’re also the least excited and the least optimistic about it. They’re the least convinced that it will positively impact productivity but the second most convinced that it will positively impact work performance.

How do different generations feel about the meatverse and how do they think that the metaverse will positively impact work — *Source: ExpressVPN*

They’re the second least concerned about employee surveillance but the most concerned about overall digital privacy and security. Finally, they’re the most excited about remote collaboration and working remotely, but well under half of them think that immersive tech is the future of work.

Does any of that make sense to you? No? That’s a relief.

The Future? Yes. Tomorrow? No.

Please do read the original survey for yourself. There was a lot in there that we didn’t cover here and there are places where you might be able to make more sense of it.

No matter how one reads the numbers, immersive tech may well be the future of work but it may not be the immediate future of work.

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