AR/VR board meetings

Have you ever wanted to physically attend a work meeting but dreaded stepping foot into the office?
Or missed an important lecture due to cross-town traffic?

Thanks to advances in augmented and virtual reality technologies, today's increasingly remote workforce can actively participate in corporate board meetings and tutorials from the comfort of their living room.

Video meeting platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams provide a rudimentary version of this capability, with participants able to see one another via a configuration of shared screens.

The Internet of Things (IoT) is making it possible for workers to feel as though they're physically in the room, seated amongst colleagues at a corporate table discussing the day's agenda or curriculum face-to-virtual-face.

Virtually there

A report published by Grand View Research indicates the global virtual reality market size is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15% from 2022 to 2030. The applications of this technology for instructional training and manufacturing in the oil and gas industries are helping to account for the accelerated market growth.

According to Research and Markets, the augmented reality market share is poised to enjoy a similar trajectory, with an expected CAGR of 18.6% by 2026. This emerging technology is enhancing beyond its roots in the entertainment industry to encompass multiple sectors like automotive and healthcare.

The combination of these applications provides viewers with an immersive experience via wearables like helmets, glasses or bodysuits. The variety and availability of these technologies have exploded in the last couple of years, as unprecedented circumstances forced a shift in the ability to attend work and school functions.

Pandemic pivot

The worldwide spread of COVID-19 resulted in work-from-home and remote learning opportunities for millions. Companies increasingly shifted to virtual programs in order to continue operating, with meetings attended by way of IoT-powered smart devices.

According to Forbes, the global spend on AR and VR headsets, software and services rose to $12 billion in 2020, representing a 50% increase from 2019.

Not your average meeting

VR meetings allow a remote working team to put on headsets and participate in a meeting hosted in a recreation of a traditional boardroom, just as they would have pre-pandemic. However, if the desired board room is a tropical beach setting, that environment is just as easily imagined and shared amongst the viewers.

For specific situations – for example, a meeting to discuss the infrastructure of a sewer system revitalization project – participants can be transported on-location without having to endure the potential sensory assault or safety risks associated with a real-world visit.

Depending on the situation, a VR headset may be complemented by haptic gloves or a virtual treadmill to mimic the movements of a real person in a virtual environment.

Perle offers innovation

Perle is proud to partner with IoT technology adopters by offering serial to ethernet solutions. To learn more about how Perle provides efficient, reliable connectivity via industrial switches, visit our telecommunications page.