Augmented Reality (AR) for Conferencing and Business Communication

Benefits of Using AR in Conferencing

Visualization

A quality picture is worth a thousand words, while а high-quality 3D model is worth a thousand pictures. With a 3D model, a speaker can demonstrate a product or object they’re speaking about from all angles and be more convincing. This technique can be used both for internal company meetings and meetings with potential clients.

The ability to test a product and interact with its 3D model enhances customer decision-making and provides an unforgettable experience. Moreover, a company can offer a personalized AR experience and show how a product helps to solve unique client challenges.

In addition, Augmented Reality video conferencing reduces travel costs for sales representatives or freight costs for transporting large products. Using AR, a client can see a 3D model in a full manufactured size at any location. A 3D model can also represent a scaled-down or enlarged product version, making it possible to explore an item in detail.

In the case of internal meetings, AR works the same way, allowing for comprehensive presentations, data visualization, prototyping, and product showcases. Even if other meeting members cannot interact with a real product, with AR a speaker can be sure that all attendees are on the same page.

Increased productivity

AR video conferencing apps provide many new capabilities for collaboration. For example, they enable brainstorming ideas and sharing and handling whiteboard ideas. Another option is to use virtual prototypes, reviewing and analyzing them, sharing the same models, to work together on issues, reduce chances of misunderstanding, and so on. Moreover, 49% of IT leaders believe the main advantage of AR for the workforce is the ability to access information in real-time, which improves work efficiency.

All of the above contribute to creating a comfortable space for collaboration and communication, resulting in more productive teamwork.

Better engagement

Thanks to AR masks, filters, virtual backgrounds, and other techniques that offer the ability to extend the real world, participants become more engaged and focused during meetings. AR elements also help to create a personalized video conferencing experience, to keep employee attention and increase their satisfaction.

In addition, the opportunity to interact with 3D objects immerses members in the meeting flow and reduces distractions from external stimuli.

Higher retention

Illustrated information, demonstrating materials in an engaging way, and frequent changes in the virtual elements boost the attention span of attendees, resulting in higher retention of information garnered in an AR video conference. AR helps participants better absorb information, immerse themselves in the discussion, understand tasks more easily, and be more productive during meetings.

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Freedom of expression

AR meeting apps ensure freedom of social expression through AR masks and avatars. This is especially important when it comes to webinars or other large-scale conferences, where people are not acquainted with each other. By using some fictional avatars or masks instead of appearing as themselves, attendees can cope with social anxiety, freely participate in discussions and bring their ideas to the table.

This effect can be called “safety in public”: people can express themselves and their thoughts, but in the safety of their own homes.Thus, companies can establish an innovative corporate culture, strengthen their image as a modern brand, and increase employee satisfaction.

Another way AR video conferencing apps help make communication more comfortable is by creating 3D avatars that can join other meeting members in a specific physical room using AR glasses. This is useful for hybrid conferences and masks the physical absence of teammates. Speakers are able to make eye contact and feel more comfortable and focused during online communication.

How AR is Changing the Future of Conferencing

Even though businesses are trying to return to offices, statistics show that 74% of employees are eager to continue working from home. This is increasingly pushing companies to adopt a hybrid working model. Moreover, businesses have already benefited greatly from dealing with specialists and clients all over the world. All these factors suggest that video conferencing solutions will be even more in demand in the future of business communication.

Although AR has already been used in video conferencing, its potential has yet to be fully revealed. The technology allows for going far beyond AR masks and filters, to changing the traditional understanding of business meetings.

For example, Ericsson has introduced AR to take its Gemba walks — daily tours by factory managers to assess work progress and interact with employees — to the next level using Magic Leap AR glasses. In addition to getting real-time data on equipment efficiency and analytics during walks, managers can initiate audio or video calls on the go to discuss and share issues with other employees in an instant. This increases the efficiency of communication and speeds up task completion.

Another trend we can expect in the near future is improvements in equipment. Tech companies are upgrading AR devices, making them simpler and easier to use as well as cheaper and more accessible for businesses.

But while video conferencing tools are improving and trying to provide more features for collaboration, their capabilities are still not enough. So, companies face the necessity of creating custom AR video conferencing apps that meet all business needs.

How HQSoftware Can Help You Create AR Meeting Apps

To ensure a smooth AR experience, quality models, and seamless connection with surroundings, software experts need to have skills and experience in 3D modeling, texturing, animation, shader, and script writing. This is where HQSoftware’s AR specialists have strong skillsets gained from a variety of delivered projects.

For example, our team has built an AR platform for marketers and creatives that allows for creating immersive AR presentations. It can be used not only for marketing campaigns but also for pitches during meetings and conferences.

By partnering with HQSoftware, you will get an experienced team of on-demand specialists that will guide you through the creation of AR video conferencing software. Contact us to find out how we can help you implement AR technology to improve your video conferencing.