“Why shouldn’t people be able to teleport wherever they want?”
That question was posed by Palmer Luckey, the founder of Oculus VR, in reference to the vast capabilities of virtual reality technology. With a charged headset and a stable connection, you can walk on a Maldivian beach, admire the cityscape of Hong Kong, or head to the Mediterranean—all without leaving your house.
But beyond the significant practicalities of saving time, cutting down on travel expenses, and reducing carbon emissions, VR also provides moments for shared experience that are simply unavailable via the 2D communications platforms we’re used to.
In a recent LinkedIn poll, we found that 63% of respondents are excited for events in VR—and the following reasons illuminate why.
Deep immersion
In our current attention economy, gaining attendees’ focus and growing engagement is the jackpot of events marketing—and that’s where virtual reality succeeds. There are no distractions in VR. Your audience isn’t secretly booking their next holiday, or answering their emails during your talk. Immersive, memorable experiences mean you can wave goodbye to no-shows, Zoom zombies (there in body only), and yawn-worthy meetings.
Scale
Innovative firms are embracing virtual reality for their distributed workforces, for special gatherings, for impactful training, or to transform events and corporate conferences. One of the caveats to VR is that events at scale are very challenging technically. This is why our highly experienced team (from the likes of Microsoft, Sky, MSN, and the BBC) have focused on making this technology available at enterprise level, something which really sets Mesmerise apart.
Bridging distances
Until we invent teleportation, virtual reality offers the most powerful way to be co-present with a colleague or client, no matter where in the world they are. And because your brain experiences a feeling of genuine “presence” even if you are consciously aware of the technology, events that happen in VR are deeply memorable—as if you were there in person.
But that’s just one benefit. From reducing your carbon footprint to ignoring the hassle of travel delays, juggling time zones, jet lag, and plane food, meeting people in the metaverse brings with it a host of advantages.
Inclusivity
Because anyone with a headset can use VR, a virtual event allows people of different backgrounds and physical abilities to interact in the same space. Typical barriers to event entry can include mobility, health concerns around being in crowded spaces, caring responsibilities, or personal obligations that disallow onsite presence. VR removes all those barriers, creating a more inclusive and enjoyable event experience.
Innovation
Virtual reality fosters new and creative ways of thinking. We already know the best ideas don’t come to us while we’re stuck on a Zoom call, scrolling our phones, or languishing at a meeting room table. Instead, lightbulb moments happen when we’re in motion and experiencing something unique. With VR, you can prompt innovative brainstorming and breakthrough moments.
The metaverse is here, and it’s waiting to host your event.
