Building and Using a Virtual Breakout Room with a 360-degree View for Company Training
In the modern age of digital change, technology has come a long way in creating engaging experiences, especially in the field of business training. The 360-degree virtual meeting room is one of these tools. It gives the learning setting more depth and a more real feel. This post will show you how to build a virtual meeting room with a 360-degree view, how to choose the right 360-degree camera, and how to add other technologies to your virtual training room.
What's a 360-degree virtual breakout room?
A 360-degree virtual breakout room is a fully realistic digital place that looks and feels like a real meeting or training room. Participants can "look around" the room as if they were physically there because of the 360-degree feature. This makes them feel more involved and engaged.
How to Build a 360-degree Virtual Breakout Room, Step-by-Step
1. Conceptualize Your Virtual Space
The first step in creating a virtual 360-degree meeting room, as with any project, is to conceptualize the space. This process involves laying the groundwork and putting a plan into place for the virtual space you intend to build. It's a critical step that requires careful consideration and creativity. Here, we delve deeper into the factors you need to consider.
Define the Purpose and Size of the Room
Before you dive into the design specifics, it's crucial to clearly define the purpose of your virtual space. Will it be used for team meetings, training sessions, presentations, or workshops? The intended use will guide your decisions about the size of the room, the number of participants it can accommodate, and the overall layout.
For instance, if your virtual space will be used for large training sessions, you may need to design a bigger room with designated areas for presentations and group work. However, for smaller team meetings, a more intimate space with a central focus point may be more appropriate.
Identify Key Elements to Include
Next, think about the essential elements you want to include in your virtual space. This can be anything from furniture, like desks and chairs, to interactive whiteboards and screens for presentations. Consider also including elements that boost the sense of realism in the virtual space. These could be things like windows with views, indoor plants, or wall art.
Plan for Interaction and Engagement
Deciding how you want participants to engage in the virtual space is key. Consider what kind of interactions you want to enable. For example, if collaborative work is a central part of your meetings, ensure your virtual space includes elements that facilitate this, such as virtual whiteboards or shared documents that everyone can edit.
The ability to move around the space can also enhance the sense of realism and engagement. Consider if you want users to have the ability to "move" to different areas in the room or to interact with the virtual environment in any way.
Consider the User Experience
Think about the experience from the participant's perspective. What will they see when they enter the virtual room? How will they navigate the space? Is it easy to interact with the virtual elements? Strive to make the user experience as intuitive and enjoyable as possible. This might involve testing various layouts or features and gathering user feedback.
Think About Aesthetics and Branding
Finally, consider the look and feel of your virtual space. Aim to make it visually appealing and reflective of your company's brand. Use consistent color schemes, logos, or themes that align with your company's identity. The aesthetics of your virtual space not only add to the overall user experience but also contribute to the identity and culture of your organization.
Conceptualizing your virtual space requires you to think deeply about the room's purpose, the elements to include, the types of interactions you want to foster, the user experience, and the visual aesthetics. This thought process forms the foundation for creating a virtual 360-degree meeting room that is both functional and engaging.
2. Capture 360-Degree Footage
To make a realistic experience, you'll need to take a 360-degree picture of the space you want to use. You will need a 360-degree camera to do this. Here are some thoughts:
Insta360 ONE X3: This camera has great image stabilization and a lot of different ways to take pictures, like 360-degree and panorama. It has a quality of 5.7K, which makes the film clear and full of details.
GoPro MAX: The GoPro MAX is also a great choice. It has a 5.6K image and is tough and waterproof. It has six mics that can record 360-degree sounds.
The Ricoh Theta V: The Ricoh Theta V can record 360-degree video in 4K quality and can also live stream. It is small so that it is easy to carry.
Make sure to put the camera at the right height and place to get a clear picture of the whole area.
3. Get the footage ready
After getting the video, you can edit and render it with tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro X. These apps let you edit 360-degree footage and can help you make any changes you need to the video you've recorded.
4. Put the 360-degree video into a virtual environment.
Now is the time to put your rendered video into a virtual world. Tools like Mozilla's Hubs or VRChat are great tools for making a 360-degree world that is both immersive and customizable. VR devices can also be used with these systems for a fully realistic experience.
5. Add things that people can do together
Use tools like A-Frame for 3D models, Miro for virtual whiteboards, or Zoom's breakout rooms for smaller discussion groups to make your virtual breakout room more interactive.
Making your virtual break room better
VR stands for "virtual reality."
Your 360-degree meeting room will be even more immersive with VR. Platforms like AltspaceVR or Engage let you host meetings, presentations, and training events with VR support in a virtual setting.
AR stands for "augmented reality."
AR can put digital information on top of the real world, which can be helpful for training that is both hands-on and engaging. AR experiences can be made with the help of tools like ARKit or ARCore.
Moderation by AI
AI can be used to keep an eye on the conversation in the virtual meeting room and help keep things on track. AI tools like Jigsaw's Perspective API can help handle big groups and make sure that everyone has a good time and is treated with respect.
Chatbot
AI-powered chatbots can be added to your virtual meeting room to help users right away, guide them, and even answer common questions automatically.
In conclusion, building a 360-degree virtual breakout room for business training includes getting the right video, putting it into a virtual environment, and making the experience better with interactive and immersive technologies. The result is a strong teaching tool that can help a lot more people learn, understand, and remember what they have learned.
