HTC held its XR industry conference entirely in virtual reality due to the outbreak of the coronavirus. The electronics company also renamed this year’s XR industry conference to the Virtual VIVE Ecosystem Conference. In total 2,000 people attended the event, spanning a total of 55 different countries. Attendees created a customized avatar of themselves, and content at the conference consisted of presentations and panels.
The CEO of HTC, Yves Maitre, spoke about the virtual conference, "The inability to meet and communicate face to face will be an increasing challenge for the world, but XR can be one solution. To stay safe these days, we need to create more distance between people, and conversely, one of the biggest benefits of XR is the ability to remove the perception of distance and boundaries for users."
Hosting the virtual event allowed attendees to experience immersive content. Additionally, Alvin Garaylin the Chinese president of the company showcased the company's VR capabilities through digital Coronavirus models.
Immersive Virtual Conferences
HTC Pivoted Its Efforts to Host a VR XR Industry Conference
Trend Themes
1. Immersive Virtual Conferences - Hosting virtual conferences in VR platforms offers an immersive experience and allows for global participation.
2. Personalized Avatars - Creating customized avatars for conference attendees enhances engagement and a sense of presence.
3. XR as a Solution - Utilizing XR technologies as a solution for remote communication challenges in a socially-distanced world.
Industry Implications
1. Electronics - The electronics industry can explore opportunities in creating VR hardware and software solutions for immersive virtual conferences.
2. Telecommunications - Telecommunications companies can leverage XR technologies to facilitate remote communication solutions for businesses and individuals.
3. Event Management - Event management industry can adapt to offer virtual conference services and develop platforms for seamless immersive experiences.