Who doesn’t know Microsoft?

Microsoft is probably one of the most well-known names in collaboration and communication these days. Microsoft Teams has gained popularity, offering everything from content sharing, and remote learning to video conferencing. It now takes its Apps to the Metaverse with Microsft Mesh.

The Teams platform is not the only example of Microsoft’s vision for an immersive and collaborative future. Microsoft has launched the mixed reality tool Mesh which aims to make collaboration a holographic experience. Microsoft Mesh is one of the latest additions to Microsoft’s mixed-reality projects.

According to futurists, the integration of real and virtual worlds through mixed reality can be imperative to improving teamwork and productivity. The pandemic has accelerated efforts by Microsoft to integrate the virtual world with the real world. Microsoft’s ecosystem allows Mesh to work with various VR/AR hardware

Microsoft Mesh provides both virtual and physical advantages. People can interact with each other in a secure environment within the holographic space. Collaborators can interact with each using virtual avatars, however, the ultimate goal of Microsoft Mesh is to provide holoportation technology.

Holoportation is a new 3D capture technology that reconstructs and transmits high-quality 3D models of people in real time. It seems straight out of a science fiction movie. But Microsoft is making it possible. Microsoft Mesh aims to make it easier for users to interact with others, regardless of where they are.

How Is Microsoft Gearing For The Metaverse?

Microsoft is gunning big. If you read through the recent investments of Microsoft, you’ll realize that it intends to create a pathway to the Metaverse.

In January 2022, the company announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard, a video game developer and publisher for a $75 billion transaction. Games are the route that Microsoft intends to take as a prelude to the bigger game plan – the Metaverse.

This $75 billion investment is not just for their Xbox line-up but also for the future of the fabric of social interaction.

Microsoft not only announced plans to buy Activision Blizzard but has also bought Bethesda, one of the world’s biggest game studios in the world for $7.5 billion. The Activision Blizzard acquisition elevates Microsoft to the world’s third-largest gaming company in terms of revenue.

Experts in the gaming world view this as a strategic move by Microsoft, to consolidate its footing as a serious player in the Metaverse world.

‘The world’s largest tech companies are betting big on owning gamers’ attention and wallets, and each step represents an approach to the metaverse’s future,’- Mike Sepso, CEO of esports infrastructure platform Vindex.

Sepso further goes on to say- ‘There is a stark divide in focus between tech and media companies’ views on the assets they need to win the future.’

Many technology companies besides Microsoft are taking a dip in the Metaverse ocean. Facebook rebranded itself Meta as part of a revamp to focus on the Metaverse. Match Group, the parent company of Tinder will launch a virtual environment for dating.

Sports brands have joined the bandwagon with Nike purchasing a company that creates virtual sneakers for avatars. It’s playtime for kids with Lego and Epic games teaming up to shape experiences in the Metaverse.

What will be interesting to see is how Microsoft collaborates with marketers to provide immersive experiences in the Metaverse.

How Does A User Get Started With Mesh – Hardware, Software, And The Works?

Without sounding too technical, we’ll try and simplify the components of the Mesh Platform.

Hardware Of Microsoft Mesh

With Mesh, users can meet from where they are. Therefore, users can use different brands of devices. Mesh supports a range of head-mounted displays (HMDs) from fully immersive Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs) such as Microsoft HoloLens, HP Reverb G2, or Oculus Quest 2 for a 3D volumetric experience. Mesh also functions on iOS and Android phones, tablets, and PCs for convenience.

Software Of Microsoft Mesh

Microsoft endeavors to provide an expansive developer platform for Mesh.

Azure is at the heart of the developer platform. It brings duly authenticated and authorized users into a secure and trusted session using identity services such as Azure Active Directory. With Microsoft Graph APIs, developers can build apps that support Microsoft 36 to access people-centric data and insights.

AI is an important piece in the tech stack of Mesh. Microsoft has AI-powered capabilities that enable Mesh to address challenges with Massive Multiuser Online (MMO) scenarios for mixed reality. The AI-powered capabilities of Mesh include –

Avatars that represent users; the Mesh platform is equipped with an avatar rig and a customization studio.

Mesh facilitates photorealistic holoportation – a 3D capture technology to beam a lifelike image of a user into a virtual environment.

Spatial Maps place holograms that are stable across devices, time, and space.

Holographic rendering that supports rendering in Mesh-driven apps. Rendering could be either cloud-based remote rendering or local stand-alone rendering.

Read to know more about the technological capabilities of the Microsoft Mesh platform.

Get started With Microsoft Mesh

 As a user, you can get started by –

Downloading the Microsoft Mesh App from the Microsoft Store and installing it on your device.

Launch Microsoft Mesh on your HMD from the pins panel.

Sign in using your personal Microsoft account, and start using the Mesh App.

In case you’re stuck somewhere, refer to this document from Microsoft.

How Can Companies Benefit From Microsoft Mesh?

Microsoft Mesh’s purpose is to enable users in different locations to collaborate through holographic experiences with the productivity tools of Microsoft Teams.

Remote collaborators will be able to interact with shared tools, allowing users to do more than just make suggestions. Microsoft has added drop-in spaces to Mesh so company employees can interact informally, similar to how one might bump into someone in the hallway or canteen.

There are industry scenarios where Mesh could be an advantage. Engineers can design machinery, automobiles, and products with the help of holographic modeling. Similarly, architects can walk through buildings in the virtual world. Other application areas for Mesh are medical research, marine exploration, and education. This is just the tip of the iceberg.

It would have been amazing if we could have conversations over coffee (in our virtual office) with colleagues using our avatars (in the safety of our homes) during the pandemic.

The post Microsoft MESH Plunges Into The Metaverse. appeared first on Fixbracket.

Event marketing is an important business driver for leads, and a virtual event is the game changer in this space. Events have evolved from high-budget, large-audience formats to more flexible and economical options with the advent of virtual events. The pandemic has been a catalyst, forcing event companies, trade bodies, and marketers to think outside the box.

Virtual Events are known to generate a better ROI compared to traditional physical events. Technological advancements, namely the internet, and marketing technologies within the event domain, render an experience to a virtual event similar to a physical event. For those new to the concept, let’s start with the basics.

What Is A Virtual Event?

Virtual events are those where organizers host online events for audiences; participants interact with each other through a virtual platform rather than interacting in a physical location. Virtual events are diverse and can be adapted to any format according to your requirements. They can be anything from simple video conferences on virtual conferencing platforms such as Google Meet and Zoom to exuberant online events hosted on the websites of trade bodies and companies. The effectiveness of virtual events is also heavily influenced by the event management agency and the virtual event platform that runs the event.

Advantages Of Hosting A Virtual Event

Accessibility and inclusiveness

These are by far the biggest advantages of hosting a virtual event. Virtual events allow organizers to invite participants from around the world. A large turn-up can be expected by participants by merely using a device and the internet.

Faster ‘Go-Live’

If it were a physical event, it would be an expensive proposition if one considers the logistics – travel and accommodation, venue, and staffing costs borne by the organizer. The participant also saves on traveling and accommodation expenses in the case of a virtual event.

Virtual event hosting can save you up to 70% on cost and time compared to hosting physical events. This is mainly because the cost of hosting an online event is the cost of building a website, setting up a registration portal, investing in technology, and streaming expenses. But for physical events, the cost of renting space to host the event itself is half the cost of hosting a virtual event.

Flexibility and adaptability

Virtual events also offer flexibility and adaptability. If you need to reschedule a virtual event due to unavoidable reasons, the cost of rescheduling and re-hosting the event may be lower than the cost associated with the physical event.

Some Of The Common Methods Of Hosting A Virtual Event

Zoom/Google Meet/ Webex

These virtual meeting platforms can host a variety of events from simple online meetings to full-fledged conferences.

Reddit

You host virtual events on the popular social networking platform called Reddit famous for news and entertainment content. You can conduct AMAs (Ask Me Anything). Companies can use this to engage to promote conversations and engagement as well building communities.

Twitter

Live tweeting is fairly popular and involves offering commentary on a live event that you’ve been promoting. Here’s how to get the most out of live tweets.

Instagram

Broadcast your video in real-time with Instagram Live. Instagram Live Rooms host a stream with up to 3 other speakers for the same broadcast event.  Read and reply to the comments of viewers.

To start a live broadcast on Instagram, follow these instructions on Instagram. 

Virtual Event Hosting Platforms

Virtual event hosting software are platforms developed specifically to provide a virtual experience to events. Their features include –

Event Management

All operations about an event are automated on the platform.

Virtual Spaces

The platform allocates various virtual spaces for the event the registration desk, lobby, meeting rooms, and exhibition pavilions.

Audience Engagement

Virtual event hosting platforms build an engaging experience through Chats, Lead generation, Q&As, and Polls.

Monetization

Companies can generate income through sponsorships and display ad sales on their event website hosted on the platform.

Here Are Some Popular Virtual Events Hosting Platforms

Hopin

(hopin.com)

Zuddl

(zuddl.com)

Hubli

(hublio.com)

Accelevents

(accelevents.com)

Hoppier

(hoppier.com)

How Can Companies Host A Virtual Event In The Metaverse?

While current virtual events somewhat replicate real-world events, they are not as immersive or as engaging. Virtual events in the Metaverse are considered the next step in the evolution of events where there will be an immersive experience, transactions, and engagement with a semblance of real life.

Read our article on the Metaverse to know more.

Companies can host events, training sessions, workshops, town hall meetings, congregations, etc. in the Metaverse. Employees can attend meetings from the comfort of their homes while feeling as if they are in their office.

The advancements in technology are at such a rapid rate that soon physical meetings will be a thing of the past. However, some futurists anticipate that the transition will happen from the physical to a hybrid experience, and eventually the Metaverse.

The Metaverse has attracted billions in investments, and companies have specialized in this space. Metaphysic is a company developing hyper-real facial expressions in the Metaverse. These expressions when combined with a person’s online persona give a more realistic feel to the person’s virtual avatar. In the corporate context – it will help to understand the emotions, and expressions of employees in a particular meeting or a virtual environment.

Meta, Facebook’s parent company,  is so confident about the Metaverse and virtual events that it has already started mass-producing VR headsets which will be sold from 2024 onwards along with Meta’s complete version of the Metaverse. Meta is building a Metaverse where you can have your own house, and host events, parties, meetings, etc. Office spaces for meeting purposes will also be recreated with a lively feel. By just putting on a VR headset, a person will be teleported to his/her office and home.

Metaverse events that you can look forward to –

• Metaverse Global Congress
• Augmented Enterprises Sumit
• AWE USA
• Immerse Global Summit

Other tech giants are exploring the world of the Metaverse. Meta, for example, has already created Meta Horizon Workrooms, a digital assembly area in which colleagues be part of an avatar with a VR headset. Microsoft has a comparable experience called the Microsoft Mesh.

Wrap Up

Epic Games, the makers of Fortnite are considered pioneers in the field of virtual events. Fortnite teamed up with various artists such as Marshmello, Travis Scott, and Ariana Grande to host music shows in the game itself.

These events were so big and popular that they started a whole flurry of collaborations and virtual events in other Metaverse-like games as well.

Virtual events are considered as a step in the evolution of events with events in the Metaverse the next logical step in the evolution. It is very encouraging to see the evolution in such a short period, from Zoom meetings to meeting in virtual environments, all this has been achieved in only a few short years.

Hence, it will be interesting to see what the future hold for events.

The post This Is How To Host A Virtual Event. appeared first on Fixbracket.