In his 1983 book, "The Human Built World," Thomas P. Hughes wrote, "The most important aspect of technology is not what it can do in and of itself, but what it can do in conjunction with human beings."
Hughes, an American historian of technology and engineering, was acutely aware of technology's profound impact on our society and culture.
Forty years after his prescient observations, humanity is contending with history's most powerful and pervasive technologies that present fundamental questions about how we are to function within our communities, organizations and societies.
There are more questions than answers at the moment. But one thing is clear, the latest advances in AI and VR offer powerful new ways for businesses to connect with customers and their employees. Business pragmatism will drive broader adoption. These will be tools used to solve problems “in conjunction with human beings.” VR and AI’s broader implications for societies will be sorted out in parallel.
"The latest advances in AI and VR offer powerful new ways for businesses to connect with customers and their employees. Businesses can now integrate VR into their communication and collaboration processes, making it more accessible and affordable than ever before. This will undoubtedly drive significant growth in its adoption across various industries,” said Angela Harar, Portfolio Director, Clarion Events.
We’re witnessing a tremendously uncertain but nonetheless exciting period. We are at the start of an entirely new era of business. The human imagination is limitless. So too is the sky. And so, it's up to us to discover and explore what VR and AI can offer "in conjunction with human beings.”
It's still early in the game, and companies that ignore these new technologies risk extinction.
Compared to AI and VR, the printing press was child's play. But, like the watershed moment of Gutenberg’s invention, a new era of transformation and invention is upon us. What it will look like is up for grabs.
VR: The Ocean to Carry Us to Unseen Shores
"Information flows like an ocean around our feet, waiting to carry us away to strange and uncharted shores," said Finn, a character in the science fiction novel "Accelerando," by Charles Stross.
Indeed, if Mark Zuckerberg had his way, his Metaverse would represent the next advance in human exploration unto those "strange and uncharted shores." And he’d probably like to control the information – and its ocean – and the exploration of the metaverse in pursuit of his aims. After all, he's bet his company on VR.
In a way, the next significant era of exploration has already begun - this time with AI and VR.
Just look at UC&C in businesses worldwide. Companies have adopted VR in limited but increasingly essential applications. Despite its slow adoption rate as a consumer entertainment platform, VR offers companies and organizations an almost irresistible immersive experience to revolutionize communication, collaboration, and innovation.
Accessible and Affordable VR Technology
One of the main drivers behind the widespread adoption of VR in UC&C environments is its increasing affordability and accessibility.
The emergence of standalone VR headsets and the development of cloud-based VR solutions make it easier for businesses to integrate VR into their communication and collaboration processes. It's expected to drive significant growth in its adoption across various industries.
“From rethinking how to design facilities to how modern tech will allow us to work differently, professionals are trying to determine what to make of the rapid transformation. We look forward to hosting peer-exchange sessions like “Emerging AR/VR; Harmonizing Facilities, Technology and Culture; Equipping Your Workplace: Using Today's Technologies to Create the Collaborative Spaces We're Longing For” to learn directly from IT, AV and CX professionals on how they’re integrating these emerging technologies,” Harar added.
AI + VR = Turbocharged Metaverse
AI and VR are a hand-and-glove relationship. Together it has tremendously exciting possibilities for UC&C and businesses in general.
Key benefits include:
VR-Enabled Remote Collaboration
Employees can use VR headsets and collaboration platforms to participate in virtual meetings, brainstorming sessions, and training, regardless of location, that feels more like in-person interactions. That can lead to more effective communication, greater engagement, and stronger relationships among team members.
Improved training and learning
AI-powered virtual reality offers immense potential for revolutionizing training and education. It can create real-world situations, allowing employees to gain hands-on experience without the risks or costs of traditional training methods in a safe and controlled environment. These programs can adapt to the user's performance and learning curve, providing personalized feedback and recommendations for improvement.
Enhanced customer experience
VR and AI can create immersive and delightful customer service experiences, including virtual showrooms, interactive product demonstrations, or realistic simulations. That can help customers make more informed decisions and improve overall satisfaction.
Data visualization and analytics
VR can visualize complex data sets in 3D, making it easier for teams to understand and analyze information. AI can enhance these visualizations by identifying patterns and trends, providing actionable insights to guide decision-making.
Streamlined design and prototyping
VR enables teams to create and review 3D models of products or environments, while AI can help optimize designs, predict performance, and identify potential issues before they become costly problems.
Remote assistance and support
VR and AI can provide real-time remote assistance to employees in the field, allowing experts to guide and troubleshoot issues virtually, reducing downtime and travel expenses.
Meeting efficiency
AI-powered transcription, translation, and summarization services can be integrated with VR meetings to make them more accessible and efficient, allowing participants to focus on the most critical points and collaborate more effectively.
Enhanced creativity
VR and AI can open internal teams to new creativity to explore new ideas, visualize concepts, and improve designs more quickly and efficiently.
Cost savings
Integrating VR and AI can save costs by reducing the need for physical office spaces, travel, and resources.
We've Only Just Begun and the Future Looks Wide Open
The impact of virtual reality on UC&C is just beginning. As it advances, expect more transformative changes. Some potential future developments include:
