How virtual reality makes remote work more convenient
Architect using vr glasses for building model design in architectural office. Man engineer working with headset and virtual reality to analyze construction layout and development.

Modern worldwide companies like Meta, HTC, and Microsoft are developing virtual offices for remote workers. COVID-19 was one of the reasons why VR offices are gradually becoming popular. 

Pricewaterhouse Cooper predicts that 23.5 million people will have virtual reality workplaces by 2030. 

Besides, in the next five years, Meta plans to create 10 000 new workplaces in the metaverse for European Union countries like Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, The Netherlands, and Spain. 

What is VR office and its purpose 

VR office is a digital space where people work, communicate, and interact with their colleagues using avatars. VR office space resembles a real one, but has some special traits. 

The main task of a virtual office is to create favorable work conditions for people who can do remote collaboration from different parts of the world.

How to choose a virtual office

We talked to the head of the XR department Oleksii V. on what a VR office should be like,  to meet all the requirements of a company, which needs an office like this. According to him, the main purpose of the VR office as a digital version of the real one is to give a VR headset user the necessary tool kit to make them feel like they’re actually in this office. Also, this experience can help them  participate in conferences, carry out presentations, and communicate with colleagues and authorities directly. 

What you should pay attention to it so that, depending on purpose of designing VR office, you can have a different number of tool kits. Let’s say you need drawing or YouTube video streaming, somewhere you need to be able to download, show, and discuss PDF files, somewhere you need to show 3D models. Thus, it all depends on the field and specifics of the industry we design virtual offices for,” Oleksii V. said.  

Advantages of VR office

Flexible Workflow Customization

The possibility to work in a fully customized virtual workplace that fits people’s functional and esthetical needs is the one of the main advantages of VR office work. 

For example, VR app Immersed gives access to 15 different locations where VR headset user can work: from the cave with waterfall to the space station on the Earth orbit.

There’s also a virtual coworking place, designed as a café, available for people around the world in the Immersed app. 

Increased remote work productivity

A comfortable virtual workplace helps to increase productivity. It is possible due to maximal isolation from various distractions. As the result, virtual reality workplace makes worker unleash their full potential. 

According to the research, remote workers in Deep Mode increase their productivity by 48%  and make up for 16 hours of working time lost because of distractions. 

Gender inequality decrease 

Workers’ digital avatars shouldn’t necessarily represent their gender and appearance. So, it can positively affect gender equality and fight discrimination by gender, race, sexual orientation, etc. 

Experiments with blind auditions of musicians prove this point. The idea was to prevent judges from seeing musicians’ appearance during the audition. And this gave some results:  five top-rated US orchestras increased the number of female musicians from 6% in 1970 to 21% in 1993. The New York  Philharmonic orchestra increased the number of women from 0% to 33% у 1997

AR/VR Apps development

Communication improvement

Modern technologies allow digital avatars to represent the host’s appearance and emotions. Oculus presented new, improved avatar’s functions, with enlarged choice of emotions, skin colors, face shapes, and limited number of clothes. Also, users can add over-the-ear hearing aids and wheelchairs to their digital avatars. 

We hope your new virtual self enables you to represent yourself online the way you want to be represented — whether that’s to friends and family, your local community, or beyond”, said Aigerim Shorman, General Manager for Avatars and Identity at Meta

VR office disadvantages you should pay attention to

Virtual reality remote work is a new field of digital technologies, which have both advantages and disadvantages. We suggest paying attention to: 

  • personal data leaks;
  • possible violations of privacy and harassment;
  • the necessary equipment still isn’t available to everyone and evenly distributed around the world. 

Solving this issues can make virtual space safer, which may positively affect the distribution of the digital office technology. 

Conclusion

Today, VR remote work is gradually becoming popular. The COVID-19 pandemic kick-started VR offices development. Virtual offices make remote work more productive, support team work, and improve interaction between colleagues. 

Related Articles

November 28, 2023
Enhancing Dental Education: The Role of Haptic Feedback in Preclinical Training

Dental education is a demanding discipline, requiring students to develop precise manual dexterity, particularly in preclinical restorative dentistry. In the past, students have been trained using conventional phantom heads or mannequins, offering a simulated but less tactile experience for practising procedures. However recent advancements in haptic feedback technology have transformed preclinical dental education, providing a more immersive and tactile training experience! The Importance of Haptic Feedback in Dental Education In dental education, the development of psychomotor skills is paramount. Dental students must hone their manual dexterity to perform procedures with precision and efficiency. Traditionally, students have trained on phantom heads, but these models lack the realistic tactile sensations experienced during real clinical procedures. Furthermore, the use of plastic teeth in these training models not only fails to replicate the natural variability of real teeth but also raises environmental concerns due to plastic waste. Obtaining natural human teeth for training purposes is also challenging due to ethical constraints. Haptic feedback technology has emerged as a game-changer in dental education. Haptic devices, such as Simodont, provide realistic tactile force feedback, allowing students to practice procedures on virtual patients. This technology offers several advantages: Realistic Sensations: Haptic technology simulates the resistance and pressure experienced in real clinical settings, enhancing students’ motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and dexterity. Safe and Controlled Environment: Haptic-based training allows students to practice dental operations indefinitely in a safe and controlled environment without the risk of harming a living patient. Personalized Feedback: The technology can provide personalized feedback to students, helping them identify areas where they may be applying too much or too little pressure and deviations from the proper trajectory. Limitations of Conventional Phantom Head Training Despite the advantages of traditional phantom head training, it has several limitations: Lack of Realistic Tactile Sensations: Phantom heads do not provide the tactile feedback experienced in real clinical settings, which can hinder students’ skill development. Environmental Concerns: The use of plastic teeth in phantom heads leads to plastic waste, contributing to environmental issues. Limited Reproducibility: Real patient procedures are not repeatable for practice, limiting students’ exposure to various clinical scenarios. Read also: Empowering Doctors And Patients: How Augmented Reality Transforms Healthcare How VR and AR Address These Limitations Haptic feedback devices, when integrated with VR and AR technologies, offer solutions to the limitations of traditional training methods: Realistic Tactile Sensations: VR and AR technologies create immersive virtual environments that replicate real clinical scenarios, enhancing the realism of training. Personalized Learning: These technologies allow for personalized feedback and performance evaluation, enabling students to identify and correct errors in real-time. Unlimited Reproducibility: VR and AR enable students to practice procedures repeatedly in diverse and realistic scenarios, ultimately improving their clinical competence. The integration of haptic feedback technology in dental education, especially when combined with VR and AR, has revolutionized preclinical training for dental students. It addresses the limitations of traditional training methods by providing realistic tactile sensations, personalized learning, and unlimited reproducibility!

October 18, 2023
Beyond the Screen: Integrating WEART Haptic Devices for a Multi-Sensory Enterprise Experience

Navigating the intricate maze of technological progress and human engagement reveals a constantly shifting terrain. Haptic devices stand out as the vanguard in this revolution, and WEART is undoubtedly leading the charge. In this expanded discourse, we at Qualium Systems, specialists in custom IT engineering, explore the engineering marvels and the expansive business applications of WEART’s pioneering haptic technology. The Technical Ecosystem: A Deeper Dive Hardware Innovation: More than Just Touch WEART’s devices go beyond mere simulation to recreate tactile sensations intricately. The wearables make use of cutting-edge actuators and sensors to offer a wide spectrum of tactile experiences, from the velvety softness of a petal to the ruggedness of a rock. 1. Actuators: Employing both mechanical and electronic components, actuators deliver precise tactile feedback. They play a crucial role in mimicking various textures, thermal cues and forces, pushing the boundaries of what users can ‘feel’ digitally. 2. Sensors: These aren’t your everyday touch sensors. WEART’s sensors can detect minute changes in pressure and movement, making the haptic interface responsive and incredibly realistic. Software Engineering: Facilitating Haptic Integration Qualium Systems takes pride in offering SDKs compatible with both Unity and Unreal Engine, making the integration of WEART’s groundbreaking haptic features easier than ever. 1. Unity & Unreal Engine SDKs: These engines are favored by developers for their ease of use and flexibility. Our SDKs are tailored for these platforms, offering rapid prototyping and high-fidelity rendering capabilities. 2. Custom APIs: Our SDKs come with a range of APIs that allow you to fine-tune the haptic experience to align with specific use-cases or requirements. 3. Data Analytics: The SDKs also include telemetry functions that capture key metrics. Businesses can assess user engagement in real-time, modifying experiences for better interaction. Expanded Case Study: The Transformational Power of Haptic Technology in VR Chemistry Lessons A Paradigm Shift in Science Education Our VR Chemistry Lessons App is a landmark example of how WEART’s haptic technology can revolutionize education. Typically, the teaching of chemistry has relied heavily on theoretical knowledge, supplemented occasionally by lab experiments. The WEART-enabled VR Chemistry App changes this equation dramatically. 1. Molecular Vibration: For the first time, students can tangibly feel the vibrations and movements of molecules, providing an entirely new dimension to understanding kinetic energy. 2. Chemical Reactions: Imagine the educational impact of feeling the heat dissipate in an exothermic reaction or the sudden cold in an endothermic process. It’s not just theory; it’s practically hands-on learning. 3. Substance Interaction: Different elements and compounds come with unique textures and properties. Our app lets students ‘touch’ these materials virtually, further enriching their understanding. The Birth of Dynamic Learning Environments The integration of WEART’s technology moves education from a unidimensional, rote-learning model to a multi-sensory, experience-driven paradigm. This shift is monumental in helping students better retain and apply complex scientific concepts. Business Implications: Why This Matters to You Economic Efficiency: Beyond Cost Savings Integrating WEART’s haptic devices significantly reduces the overheads associated with conventional training methods. Virtual reality setups eliminate the need for physical resources and spaces, making training efficient and cost-effective. Customer Experience: A New Frontier Introducing a tactile component to your services enhances the overall user experience. Whether it’s a virtual showroom or an online educational platform, the added layer of tactile interaction can make your services unforgettable. Competitive Strategy: The First-Mover Advantage In a market that is continually evolving, early adoption of new technologies like WEART’s haptic devices can give you a significant edge. It’s not just a matter of staying current; it’s about leading the charge in the new age of digital interaction. Final Remarks: The Road Ahead The amalgamation of WEART’s groundbreaking haptic technology with Qualium Systems’ expertise in software development is a game-changer. Whether you’re an innovator in the technical sphere or a forward-thinking business owner, the era of multi-sensory computing has arrived. The scope of what this technology can achieve is only limited by our imagination. At Qualium Systems, we’re excited to be your partners in this exhilarating journey into the future.

August 18, 2023
Elevating Hospitality: Evolution of VR in Hotels

Today, modern technologies provide incredible opportunities in numerous areas, including the hotel business. This technology creates a deep connection between the guest and the hotel, overturning the usual idea of hospitality. Virtual reality allows you to surprise guests with immersive unique experiences that are not only exciting but also facilitate the activities of the establishments themselves. In this article, we’ll look at how virtual reality revolutionizes the hospitality industry and helps to deliver unparalleled guest experiences. Exploring Diverse Dimensions of VR in Hospitality There are several main areas where virtual reality is most often used in the hotel industry, including virtual tours, staff training, and VR entertainment.  Enhancing Guest Experiences through VR VR hotel tours are one of the most popular directions where virtual reality is typically when dealing with  hospitality. Before checking in, guests can take a trial visit to the property in VR to assess the hotel environment. This technique will help to better understand where exactly they want to stay, in which room, and whether this hotel meets the requirements. “One of the reasons why VR marketing has taken on a viral tone, arises from the fact, that guests will be provided with a hands-on point of view when making an important booking decision. Using such technology clearly illustrates that the property in question is keeping abreast of the latest digital trends. Today, VR tours can be easily placed on an online platform, through the rise of cost-effective software packages,” according to Keystone Hospitality Property Development. For example, the Atlantis Dubai Virtual Tour shows future customers what the hotel looks like, starting with the exterior and ending with the appearance of the hotel rooms. The experience was filmed in the 360o format. Thriving Frontier of VR Entertainment in Hotels Once your guests have checked into their hotel rooms, they should receive high-quality entertainment offered by the hotel chain itself. These can be virtual reality rooms for guests to spend their free time. For example, the Polish spa resort Czarny Potok also has a virtual reality room where visitors can play various games in VR headsets. In addition, virtual reality can be used as a preview of real entertainment available. Before your guest tries, for example, sightseeing, they can get a preview of a tourist destination they could go to. Consider a VR tour of the ancient city of Petra in Jordan. Read also: Virtual Tours of National Parks. Discovering Nature’s Beauty through AR and VR Navigating Future of Hotel Reservations through VR Another area of virtual reality that is developing in the hotel industry is VR booking. Similar to virtual sightseeing, a user can see the chosen vacation spot for themselves, though the range of possibilities of VR booking is wider.  So, a VR headset user sees a digital globe of the Earth in front of them and decides on the point where they want to go. Next, they interact with a 3D model of the plane, which clearly shows the seats that can be reserved. Moreover, there is an opportunity to rent a car and choose the price of this rental. With virtual booking, users can select a payment method by scanning and adding a digital credit card. Virtual booking from Amadeus IT Group provides such options to users with VR glasses. VR’s Role in Transforming Hotel Staff Training In the hotel industry, virtual reality is used not only to serve customers but also to improve customer service. Virtual reality training, which fully reproduces the real work environment in digital reality, is an effective tool to improve the efficiency of hotel staff. For example, the Best Western Hotels chain recorded a 71% decrease in the number of customer complaints after the introduction of VR training. Virtual training is already used by the famous Hilton network. In this training, employees use VR headsets to immerse themselves in the digital space that reproduces the hotel.There, they perform various tasks typical for the hotel staff: cleaning the room, preparing a cart with lunch, and checking in guests.    The integration of virtual reality marks a revolutionary step towards improving the guest experience and redefining the hospitality industry. With the introduction of virtual reality in hotels, guests are no longer limited by physical boundaries. Virtual tours of hotels and attractions allow them to go on exciting journeys and explore these places without leaving their homes. Once a decision is made, users can completely organize their own trip through VR booking in a gamified form. Virtual reality in the hospitality industry has also paved the way for more comfortable and faster service with the help of VR training for hotel staff. The combination of technology and hospitality has created a new dimension of travel planning where potential guests can virtually walk through hotel rooms, imagine their stay, and make informed decisions. Image: Freepik



Let's discuss your ideas

Contact us