Are virtual events ready for virtual reality?

Virtual reality has long been touted as the next big thing in technology. Now, the technology itself is catching up with the hype. VR makes us feel more connected than ever — so it’s already taken off in gaming and entertainment.

So will VR eventually become the standard in other industries, too? Event hosts are currently forced to choose between hosting virtual or in-person events — but with the introduction of VR, they may be able to get the benefits of both.

Large tech companies like Meta certainly see a future in VR for events. In June, they merged their VR events platform, Horizon Venues, with the Horizon Worlds metaverse. Horizon Worlds users can now watch concerts in VR. It’s the closest thing to actually being there.

So will this functionality become the norm? Will it become accessible for smaller organisations? And is now the right time to think about using VR for events?

The potential of virtual reality for virtual events

VR is already being used to enhance and deliver some events. In addition to music concerts, it’s already popular for delivering training — particularly in practical arenas like engineering, mining, and medicine.

“In the US, VR is being used to teach doctors how to handle emergencies in the A&E trauma room,” says tech speaker Georgie Barrat. “In the VR experience, they can recreate the stress of having someone in front of you who you have to save, as well as having a nurse giving you information, while the mother of the child is screaming at you and the machines are beeping.”

But the potential of VR isn’t limited to lifesaving training practices. Research also suggests that including innovative technology like VR in your events can be a powerful way to improve social inclusion. Accessibility should be a central concern for modern businesses, and tools like VR will enable more people to attend events and hear your message.

On a more practical level, VR can also facilitate business meetings and networking events. Horizon Workrooms, another of Meta’s VR features, allows you to create a virtual co-working space or meeting room and host a meeting entirely in virtual reality. You can see and work on your own computer screen, while interacting with other avatars in the VR space.

Will VR take off in the events industry?

Google Glass, which was designed to incorporate virtual and augmented reality elements into our everyday lives, ended in failure as customers rejected this wearable technology. But Meta — Facebook’s parent company — is investing heavily in making VR more accessible. Their user base is growing — but there are still barriers preventing this technology from taking off.

Oculus headsets — which are the only VR headset you can use to access Horizon Worlds, Venues, and Workrooms — are expensive. They currently cost around £400 each, so it’s a big investment for businesses and/or event organisers, especially while the technology is relatively young​​. So until VR headsets are more widely used, hosting a VR-based event could actually exclude some audience members.

When VR becomes more commonplace, we envisage it having a massive impact on the events industry. It has the potential to give audiences the best of both virtual and in-person events, combining the convenience of virtual with the buzz and togetherness of in-person meetups.

Is now the right time to use VR for virtual events?

It may seem like it’s the right time to get ahead of the curve and start incorporating VR into your events. Following the pandemic, everyone is used to attending online conferences and other events. But it may still be too soon to make VR a regular feature in most events.

VR technology is still in its infancy. Technical glitches, unfamiliarity, inexperience — these can all cause problems for event hosts and attendees. But as the technology improves, the cost reduces, and people become more familiar with VR devices, virtual reality will become more popular. Then you can start to deliver amazing VR experiences.

At Speakers Corner, we pay close attention to technological developments that can enhance your events, including virtual and augmented reality. We work with dozens of tech speakers to get their insights into these advances, so we can help you implement them in your event when you’re ready.