As the dust starts to settle on the recent economic disruption, researchers the world over are shifting their focus towards the more benign effects of the pandemic. Multiple studies conducted recently point towards the increased productivity achieved by organisations operating on the work-from-home model. As the benefits of working remotely stack up against traditional offices, there is an emerging need for virtual reality workspaces.
Traditional offices and company headquarters have long been considered essential to creating a proper working environment. Organisations go to great lengths to create the perfect office space that encapsulates and bolsters their specific brand of corporate culture. However, with growing fidelity as well as usage of virtual reality tech, VR-powered offices and workspaces are gaining popularity. Many offices that shut down during the pandemic are not opening back up as more and more employers warm up to their employees working remotely.
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As the demand for virtual office spaces rises, many organisations have taken it upon themselves to supply corporations around the world with VR-powered office suites and software. Here are our top 5 picks of virtual reality workspaces that you can choose for your organisation:
1. Microsoft Mesh
As one of the biggest companies at the forefront of developing the metaverse, Microsoft offers an extensive mixed reality (MR) business suite to its corporate users. Microsoft Mesh is a collaborative MR platform that lets users interact with each other and share content in real time. Supporting multiple types of VR gears, the open software allows users to conduct virtual meetings with their teams, earning it the moniker of the Microsoft Teams of the far future.
Microsoft Mesh is the latest rendition of the Altspace VR platform acquired in 2017. The organisation is gunning to be the first provider of an end-to-end VR-powered ecosystem of hardware (Hololens) and software (Mesh). Currently, users can interact through 3D avatars of themselves in a virtual reality room with projectors and ‘in-game’ access to office software like MS Word and PowerPoint. Microsoft aims to introduce ‘holoportation’ – a realistic graphic rendering of its users – to make the experience more realistic and immersive.
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2. Facebook Workrooms
CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerburg is leading the charge for his organisation to become the first ‘metaverse company’ – the release of Infinite Office this year is testament to his commitment. This year, Facebook has their mission a step further with the launch of Horizon Workrooms, available to Oculus Quest 2 VR headset buyers as a free app. Horizon Workrooms is a fully VR-powered workspace that can be used by anyone with a Facebook account and the newer versions of Oculus.
Horizon Workrooms replicate a typical workspace, with a central table, chairs and a common projector for participants to share their work and ideas. Allowing up 25 people per room, the application is designed for small teams working remotely, with a special focus on presentations and team discussions. Users can interact with each other through 3D avatars, supported by spatial audio features to make interactions immersive.
The app, in its present iteration, is far from perfect; with several reviews pointing out awkward functionality and glitches, it is clear that the rushed launch has affected the user experience. While the current prognosis of Facebook’s efforts may be bleak, it’d be unwise to count them out of the race just yet.
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3. vSpatial
Started in 2016, vSpatial is a cross-compatible virtual reality workspace made for individual users. Unlike most virtual reality workspaces that focus on meeting and collaboration amongst its users, vSpatial is geared towards increasing personal productivity. vSpatial simulates the office desk environment on users’ PCs, enabling the use of computer applications and in-app communication with other users at the same time.
vSpatial can be used on multiple VR headsets and operating systems, lowering the barrier of access for new users. While the application provides substantial benefits for individual productivity, it lacks the capabilities to enable a seamless P2P interface. Other users on vSpatial appear as static images, which significantly diminishes the impact of its immersive capabilities. The application also fails at effectively recreating office meetings, a drawback that has impacted the mass adoption of this solution.
4. MeetinVR
The biggest benefit of having a common office space is the ability to brainstorm in a shared space, leading to a higher quality of output. Capturing the essence of what makes brainstorming sessions tick, MeetinVR has launched its virtual workspace to enable creativity using intuitive tools.
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Unlike other applications of the genre, MeetinVR provides its users with a bevvy of tools like freehand sketching, sticky notes and whiteboards within the virtual meeting room. By including these tactile features, MeetinVR caters to the niche of freestyle meetings and casual discussions that make up the usual workday for creative folks. In keeping with the relaxed vibe of the application, MeetinVr also provides its users to customize the virtual workspace using themes and locales, making it ideal for longer and more loosely structured meetings than the usual corporate fare.
5. NextMeet
Medium to large enterprises across the world depends heavily on company-wide town halls, training sessions and seminars to keep the organisation in top shape. Unlike other VR-powered conferencing applications, NextMeet focuses on providing organisations a diversified ecosystem that can accommodate gatherings of any size – be it discussions between a few team members, or seminars for the whole company – all within the same open-world environment.
A device-agnostic offering, NextMeet can be used using VR headsets and PC alike. Using the elements of gamification, the application provides its users with a customizable virtual space enhanced by interactive elements. NextMeet is especially suited for corporate events, given its expo-style virtual environment. NextMeet can accommodate conferences, presentations and demonstrations – making each experience personable through the use of 3D avatars and spatial audio.
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With multiple iterations of the virtual reality workspace available for ready use, the technology is far more present in our lives than ever before. In a world that is becoming more and more connected while its population becomes more averse to travel, virtual reality is the bridge that will connect all ends.