In the midst of lockdown, the team fromthe Institut Arts et Métiers Laval spends three days on a paradise island!
For three days, Simon Richir, Deputy Director of the Institut Arts et Métiers Laval, and his Presence & Innovation team from the LAMPA laboratory, gathered in one place, shook hands, danced on the beach, played soccer, went boating, organized conferences with more than 150 participants, and met more than 6,000 people, without presenting a single certificate! Explanation: they were infected by the Laval Virtual World virus, and they are in great shape! We'll tell you all about it...
The new era of 100% virtual trade shows?
As the health crisis hits the entire world, all event and trade show organizers are forced to postpone or cancel. The axe fell on March 9, when it was announced that the 22nd edition of the Laval Virtual international trade show dedicated to virtual and augmented reality would not be taking place in person. This was a huge blow to the local economy!
The response was swift. As Laurent Chrétien, director of the Laval Virtual trade show, summed it up,"Crazy times call for crazy measures!"
As the days go by and technical advances are made, the crazy idea launched more than 10 years ago by Simon Richir to create a 100% virtual exhibition is taking shape. After all, this is exactly what this event is all about. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a completely virtual version of the exhibition... perhaps the first in a long line, who knows?
Participating in the show is simple and free for everyone. All you need to do is download a virtual world (developed by VirBELA, a California-based company with around 40 employees) onto your computer, tablet, or mobile phone. The experience can be even more immersive for those who own a virtual reality headset.
Once you have registered in the application, you need to visit the dressing room to create your avatar (put on high heels or a three-piece suit!) and with one click, you are teleported to the Laval Virtual World.
Relaxation and conferences
Nothing is left to chance in this carefully modeled world: places conducive to relaxation (a beach, a lighthouse to climb up to, a soccer field). Unique events to keep avatars connected (fireworks and dance parties at nightfall, midnight swims).
Alongside these are places designed for work and professional meetings: start-ups, suppliers, and multinationals, presentations of new equipment, and conferences on how to invent the future of industry. Innovation players who have also had to temporarily close their premises see this as an opportunity to virtualize their offices, such as Espace M (more information), and spread their messages.
The user experience in a 100% virtual environment
The Présence & Innovation team and students from the MTI3D master's program at the Institut Arts et Métiers Laval were like fish in water in this real-time 3D universe. Much like in a video game, which they could have modeled themselves, students were able to chat (in private or live discussions) with speakers and experts in the field. The 36 meeting spaces available in the virtual world also facilitated meetings with companies to offer their skills for future internships or jobs.
Walking around LV Word felt so natural and easy that communication seemed easier too. It makes you wonder whether embodying an avatar might give wings to some people who are usually paralyzed by shyness.
Avatars as a remedy for sometimes restrictive social codes? This is one of the themes that fuels the team's research. The "ConVRgence" scientific conferences, orchestrated by Simon Richir and his research team, were very well attended during this 22nd edition of the show, particularly by an international audience. It was a winning bet for the organizers, as Laval Virtual World recorded a peak of more than 2,000 avatars present simultaneously among the 6,000 avatars created for the occasion.
Despite the circumstances, this edition successfully replaced the annual physical event.
