Tag: Virtual Reality

  • Train Delays and Cancelled Meetings: How to Keep Business Moving

    Train Delays and Cancelled Meetings: How to Keep Business Moving

    A delayed train does not have to cancel the discussion

    When a key participant is delayed, the organiser faces a choice: wait, cancel or continue without them. Each option can disrupt the day. A planned remote alternative gives the group more flexibility. Agree it before the journey, rather than trying to organise accounts and access while someone is standing on a platform.

    Prepare an alternative that people can actually use

    Include a remote joining option in the invitation and share the documents in advance. Check whether the person will have a quiet place and a reliable connection. A moving train is often unsuitable for a detailed discussion. If they cannot participate properly, move the decision to a short follow-up instead of treating a poor connection as meaningful attendance.

    Separate information sharing from decisions

    The attendees who arrive can review the agenda, collect questions and record the points needing input from the missing colleague. Avoid finalising decisions that depend on that person’s expertise. A concise written summary makes the follow-up easier and prevents a second full meeting.

    Make resilience part of meeting planning

    For regular meetings between offices, consider formats that remove the journey entirely. Video calls and VR meeting rooms are possible alternatives, depending on the task and available equipment. Headset access needs organising beforehand; it is not an emergency replacement for someone who has no headset with them. The useful change is having a realistic plan before transport goes wrong.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • How to Bring Teams Together Across Different Office Locations

    How to Bring Teams Together Across Different Office Locations

    Start with a shared reason to meet

    Bringing several offices together can involve travel budgets, conflicting diaries and rooms with different equipment. First decide what needs a live discussion. Routine updates can be shared beforehand, leaving the meeting for questions, decisions and collaborative work. Invite people because their input is needed, rather than because they belong to a particular office.

    Give every location the same information

    Send one agenda, one set of current documents and a clear joining guide. Appoint a facilitator who can check that every location is heard. Where several people share a physical room, make sure remote colleagues can hear individual speakers and see the material being discussed.

    Avoid creating a main office and an audience

    A common difficulty is that one room has most of the people and the conversation, while other offices watch. Ask each location for input at agreed points. Read out questions submitted remotely and summarise local side conversations. If possible, use a format where participants have comparable access to speaking and shared content.

    Test a shared virtual space

    VR meeting rooms can bring headset users from different locations into the same virtual environment. They still need a clear agenda, good audio and confident facilitation. Pilot the format with a small cross-office group, provide an alternative for anyone unable to use a headset and assess whether it supports the particular work you need to do.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • Meeting Scheduling Across Time Zones: What Actually Helps?

    Meeting Scheduling Across Time Zones: What Actually Helps?

    Make the time unambiguous

    An invitation saying 10 am is not enough for an international team. Use a calendar invitation with the correct time zone and check the local time for each participant. Seasonal clock changes happen on different dates in different countries, so a familiar time difference may not apply throughout the year.

    Share the inconvenience fairly

    List people’s normal working hours and identify the overlap. If no comfortable slot exists, rotate the less convenient time rather than asking the same office to join early or late every week. Explain why the live meeting is necessary and keep it focused on work that requires people to respond together.

    Use written preparation to shorten the live session

    Send updates and questions in advance. Ask attendees to add comments before a stated deadline, giving everyone enough time in their own working day. Use the meeting to resolve the points that remain. Share a short record afterwards, including decisions, owners and dates, so absent colleagues can follow the outcome.

    Remember that a different platform does not change the clock

    Video calls and VR meetings can remove travel, but neither removes time-zone differences. A virtual room may suit a workshop while written feedback suits a routine update. Choose the format and timing separately. For public events, clearly display the event time zone and explain whether a replay will be available.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • Why Is It So Hard to Brainstorm on Microsoft Teams or Zoom?

    Why Is It So Hard to Brainstorm on Microsoft Teams or Zoom?

    Ideas need more than an open microphone

    A brainstorming call can become a sequence of long speeches, with quieter colleagues struggling to enter the conversation. A shared screen may show the notes while one person controls what is written. Teams and Zoom can support collaborative work, but the session needs a structure that gives everyone room to think and contribute.

    Separate generating ideas from discussing them

    Start with one clear question. Give participants a few minutes to write ideas independently before opening discussion. Collect contributions in a shared place, group similar suggestions and ask people to explain the promising ones. This prevents the first confident suggestion from defining the entire session.

    Make the ideas visible

    Choose a board or note-taking method that participants can access. Name ideas clearly and record the reasoning behind them. If someone cannot use the shared tool, offer another route to contribute. The facilitator should guide the process rather than become the only person allowed to add content.

    Consider another environment when it suits the group

    A VR meeting room can offer a shared setting for discussion and visual material. It may be useful when a team wants to explore a different way of collaborating, but it does not replace facilitation. Trial a short workshop and check whether participants can contribute comfortably, find the notes and agree useful next steps. End by assigning responsibility for the ideas selected.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • Why Do People Stay Silent in Online Meetings?

    Why Do People Stay Silent in Online Meetings?

    Silence can mean several things

    Someone who says little may be listening carefully, unsure when to speak or unclear about what is expected. They may also be dealing with poor audio or a meeting dominated by a few voices. Avoid treating silence as proof of disinterest. Start by checking whether the meeting gives people a useful way to contribute.

    Ask questions people can prepare for

    Send the discussion points in advance and identify where each attendee’s input would help. A specific question is easier to answer than an unexpected request for any thoughts. Allow a pause after asking it. Some colleagues will contribute more clearly through written comments before or after the session.

    Create a fair speaking structure

    Use short rounds for important decisions, without forcing people to disclose personal information or speak just to fill time. Invite contributions from those who have not yet spoken and allow people to pass. A facilitator can acknowledge a question, prevent interruptions and return to an unfinished point.

    Review the experience with the team

    Ask what makes participation easier: smaller groups, better preparation, written input or a different meeting environment. VR meeting rooms are one option for a shared discussion space, but their value should be assessed with the people using them. Equipment familiarity and comfort matter. Measure useful contributions and clear decisions rather than the number of minutes each person speaks.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • Camera-Off Meetings: How Do You Know People Are Engaged?

    Camera-Off Meetings: How Do You Know People Are Engaged?

    A camera setting is not an engagement score

    People may switch their camera off because of bandwidth, privacy, their surroundings or personal comfort. A visible face does not guarantee attention either. The better question is whether attendees understand the discussion and can help move the work forward. Agree sensible expectations for the meeting rather than making assumptions about individual camera choices.

    Look for useful participation

    Ask for feedback on a proposal, a question about the plan or confirmation of an action. Give people several routes to respond, including speech and written comments. Keep these requests relevant to the task. Repeated checks that exist only to prove attendance can make a meeting more difficult to follow.

    Make the meeting worth attending

    Explain the purpose at the beginning and keep shared material readable. Break a long presentation into sections with time for discussion. Invite only the people whose involvement is useful, and send others a summary. When participants know why they are there, it is easier to contribute meaningfully.

    Choose the environment without ignoring comfort

    Avatar-based VR meetings provide a different form of presence from a webcam grid. Participants use headsets to join a shared virtual room rather than showing their home surroundings on camera. This changes the experience, but it does not automatically create engagement. Provide a suitable alternative where needed and judge the meeting by understanding, decisions and follow-through.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • Back-to-Back Video Meetings: What Microsoft’s Research Found

    Back-to-Back Video Meetings: What Microsoft’s Research Found

    What the research examined

    In April 2021, Microsoft published findings from a small study involving 14 participants. Researchers compared video meeting sessions with and without breaks, using EEG equipment to observe brain activity. The break condition included ten-minute periods of meditation between meetings. It was a specific experiment, rather than a survey of every workplace.

    What Microsoft reported

    Microsoft reported patterns consistent with accumulating stress during consecutive meetings without breaks. The break condition showed different patterns, including indicators associated with better engagement. These findings support taking meeting schedules seriously. They do not establish that every type of break has identical effects, or that changing software alone solves meeting fatigue.

    Put a gap in the diary

    A practical response is to schedule shorter sessions and protect the time between them. State the decision needed, share background material beforehand and finish when the task is complete. Avoid filling a new gap immediately with another call. A break is most useful when colleagues are actually free to step away.

    Apply the lesson to every meeting format

    The same scheduling care should inform in-person, video and VR sessions. Moving to a virtual room does not remove the need for breaks or a manageable workload. If a team trials VR meetings, assess comfort and session length alongside collaboration. Better planning and an appropriate environment should work together.

    Read the original research

    Source: Microsoft WorkLab, Research Proves Your Brain Needs Breaks, 20 April 2021. Read Microsoft’s study summary.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • Online Presentations: Why Screen Sharing Alone Is Not Enough

    Online Presentations: Why Screen Sharing Alone Is Not Enough

    A shared slide is only the starting point

    Screen sharing makes a presentation visible, but it does not tell you whether people can read it or follow the argument. Dense slides and long monologues can make discussion difficult. Plan around what the audience needs to understand and what they should be able to decide afterwards.

    Prepare for the screen people actually use

    Use clear headings, readable text and one main point per slide. Avoid displaying a full spreadsheet when only two figures matter. Describe the key point aloud and share the document separately when people need to examine details. Check the material on a smaller display before the session.

    Build discussion into the presentation

    Pause at meaningful points and ask a specific question. Explain how attendees can interrupt or request clarification. If you are presenting and managing questions alone, keep the format simple. For a larger session, a colleague can monitor questions while the speaker concentrates on the explanation.

    Match the presentation space to the task

    VR meeting rooms offer virtual presentation screens within a shared environment. This can provide another setting for discussing reports or proposals, but the content still needs to be readable and well organised. Test it in the actual headset experience before inviting clients. A successful presentation leaves people with a clear understanding and agreed next steps, whichever platform you use.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • Can’t Attend a Conference? Alternatives to Travelling in Person

    Can’t Attend a Conference? Alternatives to Travelling in Person

    Check what you want from the event

    A conference can provide presentations, networking, demonstrations and time with colleagues. Remote access may cover some of these activities and miss others. Identify the sessions or conversations that matter most before deciding whether an online ticket, replay or alternative meeting is enough.

    Ask what the remote ticket includes

    Check whether you will watch live, receive recorded sessions or have access to questions. Confirm the event time zone and replay availability. Do not assume a remote ticket includes every part of the venue programme. A clearly described offering helps attendees choose without disappointment.

    Consider the viewing experience

    A conventional stream shows the camera view chosen by the production team. A live 360-degree stream can let compatible headset viewers look around from the camera’s position. Neither gives unrestricted movement through the venue. Good sound, a useful camera position and clear presentation content matter whichever format is used.

    Organisers can plan for people who cannot travel

    Remote access can provide another way to attend when distance or commitments make an in-person visit difficult. OowOah Live VR is designed to add a headset audience alongside a venue audience. Check the published service information for launch timing and requirements. For any event, confirm the available format before booking.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah Live VR events.

  • Do You Need Technical Skills to Use VR for Business?

    Do You Need Technical Skills to Use VR for Business?

    You need an introduction, not a technical qualification

    A new headset can look unfamiliar, especially to someone who has never used VR. The first session should focus on getting comfortable, understanding the basic controls and joining the intended activity. Avoid making an important client meeting someone’s first unassisted experience.

    Prepare the device before the session

    Charge the headset, check the required application and confirm account access. Follow the device instructions for a suitable environment and boundary setup. Give the user a simple joining guide, including who to contact if they need help. Preparation reduces the amount of troubleshooting needed during the meeting.

    Teach only the controls needed

    For an introductory meeting, show how to join, hear others, speak and leave. Explain any presentation or note-taking controls when they become relevant. A short practice session is more useful than a long tour of every feature. Let people ask questions and make adjustments before the scheduled discussion begins.

    Keep participation flexible

    Some people may be uncomfortable in a headset or unable to use one. Plan an alternative and offer breaks. The person arranging business VR needs to understand the access process, but does not need to develop the software. Start with a supported trial, assess the experience and decide whether it suits the team and its work.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • VR Meetings vs Video Calls: What Is Different?

    VR Meetings vs Video Calls: What Is Different?

    The main difference is the shared environment

    A video call usually displays people and shared content on a phone or computer screen. An avatar-based VR meeting places headset users inside a virtual room. Participants look around that environment and communicate with other people represented there. Both formats can support discussion, but they create different experiences.

    Equipment and preparation

    Video calls are familiar to many teams and can often be joined using existing devices. A VR meeting requires compatible headsets, software access and an introduction to the controls. Build that preparation into the plan. Check comfort and provide another route for anyone who cannot use the headset experience.

    Choose around the work

    A short update may be easiest by video or even a written message. A planned workshop or presentation may be worth testing in a virtual room. In-person sessions remain useful for activities that require physical access. Consider the meeting’s purpose, the participants and the material rather than assuming one format is best for everything.

    Compare a real session

    Use the same type of agenda for a small trial and gather feedback afterwards. Could everyone hear, contribute and follow the presentation? Were decisions clear? Did the equipment create difficulties? OowOah VR Meeting Rooms offer a shared environment with presentation screens and meeting support features. Evaluate the practical experience with your team before expanding its use.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • Is Virtual Reality Just for Gaming? Practical Uses for Business

    Is Virtual Reality Just for Gaming? Practical Uses for Business

    Start with the activity, rather than the headset

    Gaming is a familiar use of virtual reality, but a headset can also provide a shared meeting space, an immersive learning environment or a view of a real event. For a business, the useful starting point is a task that existing methods make difficult. A headset purchase should follow that decision.

    Meetings and shared discussion

    Avatar-based meeting rooms let participants join a virtual environment from different locations. They can discuss material displayed on virtual screens and communicate within that space. These sessions still require preparation, clear audio and an agenda. They suit a different task from an email update or a physical inspection.

    Live events and practical learning

    A live 360-degree broadcast gives a headset viewer a view around the camera’s position at a real venue. It is different from an animated virtual world. Training applications may instead use simulated scenarios designed for practice. Ask which type of experience a provider means before comparing products or discussing results.

    Try one practical use first

    Choose a small group, explain the equipment and allow time to get comfortable. Check whether the activity was useful, whether people could participate and whether another format is needed for some colleagues. OowOah brings meeting rooms, live VR events and remote perspective sharing into its platform. Each service should be considered against a clear business need.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • Travelling Two Hours for a One-Hour Meeting: Is There a Better Way?

    Travelling Two Hours for a One-Hour Meeting: Is There a Better Way?

    When the journey becomes the biggest part of the meeting

    A one-hour discussion can take most of a working day once you include getting to the station, waiting, travelling and finding the venue. The ticket price is only one part of the decision. Preparation time, missed work and the journey home also matter. Before booking, ask what the meeting needs to achieve and whether everyone needs to be physically present.

    Choose the format around the task

    An inspection, hands-on demonstration or sensitive conversation may justify meeting in person. A project update or discussion of documents may work remotely. Write down the expected result: an approved proposal, a decision or an agreed plan. This makes it easier to choose between an email, video call, shared virtual room or physical meeting.

    Keep the connection while reducing the journey

    Remote attendance still needs preparation. Share materials beforehand, allow time for questions and make sure everyone can contribute. VR meeting rooms offer another option: participants join a shared virtual space using headsets and can discuss content on virtual screens. Start with one suitable meeting and compare the experience with your usual approach.

    Try a simple travel test

    For your next meeting, add up the travel time for every attendee, identify the tasks that require being there and consider whether a shorter remote session would achieve the same decision. Keep in-person time for activities where it adds clear value.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • Hybrid Meetings: How to Include People Joining Remotely

    Hybrid Meetings: How to Include People Joining Remotely

    Two locations can become two different experiences

    People in the meeting room can hear side comments and notice when someone wants to speak. Remote participants may hear a distant microphone and see only the slides. The organiser needs to plan how the two groups will communicate, rather than simply adding a video link to an in-person invitation.

    Check sound before adding complexity

    Ask a remote colleague to test the room audio. Can they hear each speaker clearly? Can people in the room hear them without feedback? Use equipment suited to the room and avoid several nearby devices playing the same call audio. Share documents directly so remote participants are not dependent on a camera pointed at a screen.

    Make someone responsible for remote participation

    A facilitator should monitor questions and bring remote contributions into the discussion. Repeat local comments that were not audible. Avoid continuing important decisions in a room-only conversation after the call ends. Record the agreed outcome in one place that everyone can access.

    Consider a more consistent shared format

    For some discussions, having everyone join individually may produce a clearer experience. A VR meeting room is another possible shared format for participants with suitable headsets. It should be tested with the group and accompanied by an alternative where necessary. The goal is comparable access to information and discussion, not using more technology for its own sake.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah VR Meeting Rooms.

  • Remote Site Visits: Do You Always Need to Travel to See the Problem?

    Remote Site Visits: Do You Always Need to Travel to See the Problem?

    Some questions need a view of the site

    A photograph can show a component but leave out its surroundings. A live conversation with someone on site can help a remote colleague ask for another angle or understand where the problem is located. Before arranging travel, consider whether that visual discussion could resolve the immediate question.

    Prepare the visit around a clear task

    Tell the person on site what needs to be shown and which documents will help the discussion. Check connectivity and arrange a time that suits the site activity. A remote viewer may need context, measurements or a close view, rather than a general tour. Keep the session focused on the issue being considered.

    Use remote viewing within its limits

    A live feed does not replace measurements, physical testing or qualified inspection where those are required. The person on site should follow local procedures and remain aware of the environment. If the view or information is insufficient, arrange the appropriate in-person work rather than drawing conclusions from an incomplete picture.

    Bring the field and office conversation together

    OowOah Quantum Leap is designed to share a live first-person perspective with colleagues in a VR meeting room. This can support discussion between people on site and those elsewhere. Assess it for a suitable use case, confirm equipment requirements and decide which tasks still need physical attendance. The value lies in seeing enough to make the next informed decision.

    Explore the next step

    If this is a challenge for your organisation, find out whether a different meeting or event format could help. Explore OowOah Quantum Leap.