eXchange by Allseated

Roberto DaCosta shares his thoughts on the metaverse with Nick Borelli.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Full episode with Roberto available 12/23/22.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to exchange where we discuss what's next for intentional experience design with expert change agents. This season focuses on demystifying the Metaverse and explaining how the foundations of this emerging reality will change how we all come together. In this podcast summary, we’re visiting with change agent, Benjamin Bertram Goldman, Executive Producer at Ethic.

Does the Metaverse exist?

There's a singular, uppercase “M” Metaverse, which doesn't exist yet. It helps to think of the Metaverse as a place, a new place that's coming into existence. Just like we capitalize the names of countries, towns or cities, it carries a similar logic.

Is the uppercase “M” Metaverse inevitable?

We are inevitably marching toward the Metaverse. That said, the Metaverse is not inevitable. There are many things that could derail the Metaverse. Certain powers have an interest in not seeing the Metaverse take shape because it's an extremely disruptive idea. It will inevitably shake up the world in a lot of ways. Whether it's government or corporate, there are powerful centralized players that don't want to see the Metaverse come to fruition. They feel threatened by the decentralized component of the Metaverse. However, it is something we're marching toward. Given enough time, it will come into existence. 

How will the Metaverse affect culture?

The Metaverse, in its final form, will be culturally shocking. In many ways, video games are a good starting point if you want to trace the lineage of the Metaverse. If you look at the history of video games, you'll notice that it was a very culturally intense experience for the world. it created a lot of backlash and people weren't prepared for what it unleashed. Whether political or institutional backlash, eventually,games overcame it. With the Metaverse, we'll see [the same thing] at a completely different order of magnitude. The Metaverse will challenge notions such as identity, freedom of expression and ownership/IP.

Will the immersive nature of the Metaverse trigger pushback?

The immersive nature of the Metaverse is its greatest strength and it's greatest danger. Components of the Metaverse exist already and have existed for decades. Perhaps the single most important component of the Metaverse that already exists is the concept of virtual worlds. The Metaverse is a network of virtual worlds. Virtual worlds are extremely powerful as a result of their immersive nature. In the minds of players [think video games], there is no distinction between what happens in a virtual world versus what happens in the real world. Sure, there’s a matter of degree, but people form relationships with other players, deep connections with their avatars and their property. 

That is what makes these virtual worlds so enriching, but it also allows the dangers of things like pure escapism or player-to-player abuse or harassment - so much more pronounced than they are on a normal social platform. We are not yet prepared for the day when people are stepping into these virtual worlds and they're not just staying for a few hours in the evening, they're actually inhabiting an entirely parallel life, an identity. That would create an enormous amount of culture shock. It'll spawn generations of philosophical debates about what we're doing to ourselves.

What are motivators for adopting the Metaverse?

From a personal use standpoint, one of the major motivators will be the ability to create another identity. It's one of the most natural things in the world for people to have multiple identities. In some ways, it represents the ultimate in freedom. We inherit so much environmentally, genetically and culturally that we can't control. If we believe in this idea of freedom in its ultimate form, then, in some sense, we should have the freedom to create our own identity as well. In the real world, it might be hard to invent an identity and have it recognized in the real world. In the Metaverse, there's no reason why we should have to have our identities mapped one-to-one in the virtual world. 

If you take it beyond the individual, the Metaverse represents the first and perhaps only opportunity in our lifetime to experiment with creating entirely new social models, government models or economic models. How many of our models are relics of earlier thinking of less enlightened times? Enacting change is extremely slow and grueling in the real world, In the Metaverse, we have an opportunity to start over and bring our best ideas to bear in an entirely new virtual world. This idea of starting over is one of the single greatest arguments for creating the Metaverse.

How do we create a more equitable environment?

The powerful thing about the Metaverse, the same reason it's powerful from a socializing perspective, it makes it more natural. We don't have to ask: how do you make the Metaverse more equitable. We have to ask how do we make society more equitable. The Metaverse is just a society in virtual form. The Metaverse moves technology beyond Web 2. it makes it more human.

What would make the metaverse inevitable?

A movement of people.

The best part of the Metaverse is or will be?

Creating identities and finding communities.

What's missing in digital communication right now?

Humanity.

What would it take for people to want to work, even partially, in a Metaverse setting?

Opportunity.

What's a positive change that could come to the world from the adoption of the mature Metaverse?

A global society.

What should people be worried about with the onset of the Metaverse?

Mass surveillance.

Listen to the podcast.

Guest Bio – Benjamin Goldman

Producer, filmmaker, and media entrepreneur featured in the NY Times, CNN, WIRED, MSNBC, HBO, TechCrunch, BBC, FUJI TV, and Metavision, Benjamin Goldman is leading the creation of a virtual production studio at the sustainable investing firm, Ethic, in addition to serving as a Metaverse advisor to multiple companies.

About Allseated 

Backed by more than a decade of innovation, Allseated sets the standard in 3D virtual reality solutions and digital experiences for the events industry. Allseated powers virtual and hybrid events for some of the world's leading corporations. In 2022, the company launched Meetaverse, a platform that makes it easy to build corporate metaverses. Allseated.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Full episode with Benjamin available 11/28/22.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to exchange where we discuss what’s next for intentional experience design with expert change agents. This season focuses on demystifying the Metaverse and explaining how the foundations of this emerging reality will change how we all come together. In this podcast summary, we’re visiting with change agent, Anne-Marie Enns, Executive Producer of the Immerse Global Summit, Global Events Director for the VR/AR Association and the Immerse Growth Network. 

Does the Metaverse exist?

The lowercase “m” metaverses [miniverses] are already there. The capital “M” Metaverse, no, but it will happen. It’s a matter of how the [miniverses] roll-out, how interactive, interchangeable they are.  

The Metaverse players  

“The key question is who’s going to do it. It’s going to be the small companies that have been working on the Metaverse for a long time, before Metaverse became a term (and large companies tried to plant their flags), that will make the Metaverse happen.”. 

The creator economy, it’s going to be amazing to watch what happens with it.  

Information will no longer be limited, consolidated 

In Web 2 (the current version of the Internet), information is controlled by a few large organizations and simply distributed to the masses. Web 3 levels the playing field, supporting creative ownership for everyone. You own your content and control what happens to your content. The impact of what’s created will be much greater because of expanded accessibility and freedom of creativity.  

Moving from consumption to experience 

The metaverse is based on immersive technology grounded in intentional experience design. We’ve been working in the immersive tech space for awhile, but COVID helped make things happen more quickly. Immersive technology supports an amazing sense of community. There’s something welcoming about it. It gives people a chance to interact with others and to work on projects that they otherwise wouldn’t have. Metaverse platforms support relationships, providing the ability to collaborate in immersive, intentionally designed environments. It’s easily accessible for everyone. Interactive, experience-driven spaces are replacing consumption-based, content broadcast spaces.  

The Metaverse supports creativity 

It’s enjoyable [working in the Metaverse]. For the first time, you can share in creating part of history, and it’s super fun. That’s awesome. It’s great to have the freedom and openness to try new things. 

Where does work/life intersect with the Metaverse?  

The Metaverse has to be inspiring. There has to be a balance. You can build workspaces that have an element of fun. You have the design flexibility to do subtle things to make workspaces more personal and comfortable. 

When the capital “M” Metaverse is realized, what will we have gained? 

It’s about connection, community, and openness. The ability to be truly diverse and inclusive in what we’re doing rather than just saying so. it’s our opportunity to design for people. 

The best part of the Metaverse is or will be? 

Bringing together global communities of people in really creative, fun ways – having them work together, create together, design together, and play together. 

What could hold back the Metaverse from being fully realized or even derailed? 

People trying to control it, own it. There’s a lot of different groups trying to define the ethics, the rules and the laws. it’s already delaying it as you segment the market. 

What’s missing in digital communication right now that the Metaverse will add? 

The sense of being there, seeing people, feeling like you can touch people. Some of the experiences that are available now, you actually feel like you’re in them. The emotion is real, you get lost in it. 

What would it take for people to want to work, even partially, in a Metaverse setting? 

The environment has to be easily accessible, the navigation needs to be easy, it must be visually appealing, and it has to be inspiring. 

What’s a positive change that could come to the world from the adoption of the Metaverse? 

The digital footprint, not having as much of a physical footprint. 

What should people keep their eyes open for as the Metaverse matures? 

It’ll be fun to see what experiences and what worlds come out of unexpected places. 

Listen to the podcast.

Guest Bio – Anne-Marie Enns 

Anne-Marie Enns has produced events with world-class organizations such as the VR/AR Association, NCFA, TED Conferences, Honda Celebration of Light, CANFAR, White Ribbon Campaign, and Archiact. Enns is also the Executive Producer of the Immerse Global Summit, which brings together leaders in the immersive space to create and share content on topics such as virtual and augmented reality, the metaverse, blockchain, NFT’s, AI, medical advancements, education, and enterprise. 

About Allseated  

Backed by more than a decade of innovation, Allseated sets the standard in 3D virtual reality solutions and digital experiences for the events industry. Allseated powers virtual and hybrid events for some of the world’s leading corporations. In 2022, the company launched Meetaverse, a platform that makes it easy to build corporate metaverses. Allseated.com. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Full episode with Anne Marie available 10/28/22.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to exchange where we discuss what's next for intentional experience design with expert change agents. This season focuses on demystifying the Metaverse and explaining how the foundations of this emerging reality will change how we all come together. In this podcast summary, we’re visiting with change agent, Stefano Corazza, ____ and former VP, Fellow of Augmented Reality at Adobe.

Does the Metaverse exist?

The lowercase “m” metaverse - there are so many out there today [where platform providers have their own separate metaverses and control much of the user content and experience]. The uppercase “M” Metaverse doesn't exist yet. The uppercase ”M” Metaverse assumes all lowercase “m” metaverses areinterconnected, which they aren't. So, for now it's lowercase “m” metaverse only. There are two diverging forces. One tends to aggregate everything toward one [interoperable] uppercase “M” Metaverse. Then,there’s another breaking them down into silos [lowercase “m” metaverses with no interoperability]. They can’t talk to each other. It's going to be a long battle, but at the end, some level of interconnection will be achieved.

Who benefits the most from the interconnected Metaverse?

Movement toward the Metaverse includes developing file formats for interconnectivity, pushing an extension of the current GTLF standard and avatar systems that work across multiple worlds. The big brands may push for this interconnected Metaverse. For example, a brand may want that Gucci purse to exist with total fidelity across as many metaverses as possible. The metaverse platform owners, at some point, may allow for more of that. It also depends on the overall sentiment of the people because just by visiting one metaverse versus another it is, in itself, a statement that people support more open metaverses over less open metaverses.

What’s the promise of the Metaverse, what does it solve?

The Metaverse, as a truly immersive interactive environment, has a mix of internet and online gaming, amazing special audio, and maps. It’s the convergence of all this into something that feels natural, although there are a few missing pieces. One of them is the ability not only to represent your digital identity, but to move your digital identity accordingly - feeling natural movement, being able to apply your facial expression to your avatar, being able to wave, do all the nonverbal communication that we do with other people. It's going to feel really good.

Implications for business

It feels like the new work environment in the Metaverse may be an extension of our leisure time experiences in a way that is a bit unpredictable because those two worlds have always been very separate. Do you want to do a video conference, or do you want to play a game? The lines are getting blurred. A lot of the technology built for gaming is fantastic for real-time collaboration for work that you don't have when you use a video conferencing tool. We’ll see a lot of the real-time collaboration infrastructure built in these metaverses. They could provide a real-world solution for work and B2B in the future, more than we expect.

What is remote work missing?

One thing that's missing is the random encounter in the corridor. You don't have it because everything is so prescripted when you're working remotely. If there's a way to hang out in this type of virtual world, then there's a way to have these encounters. It would require that everyone be persistently in these platforms.

What’s the next stage?

Visualization and embodiment through wearable devices. Combine the viewable Metaverse with wearable technology so you can move around. I have wearable technology that I can put on, move and broadcast my facial expression in real time, but I'm stuck to a monitor. Once glasses are here and you can connect with your phone, that means you can move with a lot of freedom. The wearable device and the experience are all in the same location, and it feels much more natural. You must learn less about how to operate in the Metaverse because the real-world rules apply perfectly, one-to-one.

Why is the Metaverse inevitable?

It's the natural evolution of communication.

What's the best part of what the Metaverse is or will be?

The same platform that you use to hang out, you can use it to make movies.

What's missing in digital communication right now?

The ability to stream everything about your body and your facial expression seamlessly.

What would it take for people to want to work in the Metaverse?

It needs to be fun and efficient, and I'm not sure where there yet.

What's a positive change to the world through the adoption of the Metaverse?

It can bring a lot of empathy for other people.

What people should be worried about with the onset of the Metaverse?

Make sure you get your information from the media straight and support open standards.

Listen to the podcast.

Guest Bio – Stefano Corazza

Stefano Corazza is very passionate about new and immersive media and animation. 

About Allseated

Backed by more than a decade of innovation, Allseated sets the standard in 3D virtual reality solutions and digital experiences for the events industry. Allseated powers virtual and hybrid events for some of the world's leading corporations. In 2022, the company launched Meetaverse, a platform that makes it easy to build corporate metaverses. Allseated.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Full episode with Stefano Corazzo will be available September 23.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to exchange where we discuss what’s next for intentional experience design with expert change agents. This season focuses on demystifying the Metaverse and explaining how the foundations of this emerging reality will change how we all come together. In this podcast summary, we’re visiting with change agent, Leslie Shannon, Nokia’s Head of Innovation and Trend Scouting.

Does the Metaverse exist?

Where we are with the Metaverse right now is where we were with the internet in 1993. So, it exists. It’s certainly not anything like its future format. In 1993, we didn’t even really have a good search engine for the internet. It was just a bunch of unconnected webpages and email. That’s where we are on the Metaverse. There’s no connective tissue yet, but the individual areas that will one day be connected and form this grander fusion of the physical and the digital, which is really where all this is going, there’s plenty of those elements. The elements are there, what’s missing are the things that connect the elements together.

What will it take for mass adoption of the Metaverse?

Well, it’s really a hardware game at the moment, the same way that you couldn’t access the Internet without a computer, the same way that you couldn’t access the Internet without a computer you can’t access the Metaverse without your laptop. Moreover, the hardware of the VR headset is critical. The hardware needs to support the virtual reality and augmented reality experience where we have that union of the physical world around us and the visual digital elements showing us the unseen, making the invisible visible for both information and entertainment. That’s the bigger play, the more important one because that’s actually where we start moving away from smartphones toward head-mounted devices that become our main computing interface. This is something that’s going to develop over the next decade.

Connectivity is key. As it evolves, the Metaverse will rely on organizations providing business-to-business networking solutions. Nokia sold its handset business, and phone business to Microsoft almost 10 years ago. Since then, Nokia has been a business-to-business network company. It creates the communications networks behind enterprises. Nokia’s interest in this is building the connectivity for this because you need fabulous connectivity to make any of this work. The next wave beyond virtual reality headset adoption, which may not actually happen, is the big game is augmented reality headset adoption. AR and VR will shade into each other. The big game is augmented reality headset adoption. AR and VR will shade into each other.

The thing with virtual reality is when you put on that headset as wonderful as it is, as immersive it is, and as life changing as it can be, you’re cutting yourself off from the physical world. You are consciously taking yourself away from everything else. It’s like going to a movie theater where you have a wonderful immersive experience, but after a couple of hours, you come out again. So, this idea that we’re going to do everything in that version of the Metaverse – no. There’s a fatigue. It’s too much cutting off from everything else.

What problem does the Metaverse solve?

There’re all kinds of fabulous technology out there, but it doesn’t get popular unless it solves a problem. In the virtual reality version of [the Metaverse], we’re entering a world where getting on a plane and going to see people face-to-face all the time may not always be the best solution in terms of sustainability and putting carbon into the atmosphere. Meeting other people all the time in a two-dimensional screen has its limitations too, especially if you’re dealing with creative collaboration or something very sensitive where you need to see a lot of body nuance. Meetings in virtual reality are much, much better than a two-dimensional meeting in Teams or Zoom. Those are excellent tools, but for collaboration, particularly in three-dimensional spaces, there is nothing better than being in a fully realized three-dimensional world, talking, working with other people’s avatars through the virtual reality headset. It catches your head inclination, even if it’s not catching the subtleties of your face and the way your hands are moving, you can get a good idea of how somebody is thinking and moving. It’s surprisingly good given that it’s only three movement points on the person’s body.

The Metaverse is about experiences

Studies show that, as human beings, the way that our brains work, we form memories in virtual reality in the three-dimensional space very similarly to the way that we form memories when we’re in the physical world. But if we’re looking at a two-dimensional screen, that forms a different kind of memory. Having the experience of being in VR, in terms of how your brain perceives it, is very close to being in the physical world.

Why is the Metaverse inevitable?

We are always finding new ways to reach out to each other. And this is a way that we can erase time and space distances and be with each other in a way that actually has meaning.

What’s the best part of what the Metaverse is or will be?

Freedom to do things and freedom from things. In a digital world, everything is possible.

What would it take for people to want to work in the Metaverse?

We are going to need to have a hardware change.

What’s a positive change to the world through the adoption of the Metaverse?

Better understanding of other people and cultures.

Is there anything people should be worried about with the onset of the metaverse?

Privacy issues.

Guest Bio – Leslie Shannon

5G, augmented/virtual/mixed reality, visual analytics, next-gen gaming, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and more. As Nokia’s Head of Innovation and Trend Scouting, Leslie Shannon spends her time looking at emerging technologies and how they’re going to change our lives.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Full episode with Leslie Shannon will be available on August 26th.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to exchange where we discuss what's next for intentional experience design with expert change agents. This season focuses on demystifying the metaverse and explaining how the foundations of this emerging reality will change how we all come together. In this podcast summary, we’re visiting with change agent, Doug Hohulin, technology & innovation advisor in the areas of 5G/6G and XR/metaverse.

Does the metaverse exist?

The metaverse is:

• Here, it’s just not evenly distributed

• The internet plus 3D, VR, network, cloud, and AI

• Whatever the Internet is going to be in 2030 

• 

“As an engineer, I want people to forget about the technology and just have immersive, enjoyable experiences.”

Spatial, it’s immersive

Does the metaverse offer meaningful experiences?

Yes, you can have meaningful connections. People talk about the real and the virtual worlds, but every connection whether physical or virtual, can be meaningful or unmeaningful. The question is can I use emerging technology to enhance meaningful connections. As an engineer, I want people to forget about the technology and just have immersive, enjoyable experiences.

What's the equitable use of the metaverse for most people?

Equitable use depends on answering the following questions: 

• Is it available?

• Is it affordable?

• Is it relevant to my life?

• Do I have the readiness to use the technology?

How will metaverse impact work life?

“[It’s about] providing meaningful connections and relationships, bypassing any time and space, where you can connect to people anywhere around the world.”

A lot of the adoption for this technology has come in the wake of COVID. Now remote work and globalization are here to stay. So, 70% of people in China use XR technology for business (B2B or B2C).In the United States, in the west, it’s only 30% for business.

Why is the metaverse inevitable?

Because technology is inevitable. People are investing lots of time and effort and money in the metaverse. And just like the technology was inevitable in the past, it will be in the future.

The best part of the metaverse will be?

Providing meaningful connections and relationships, bypassing any time and space, where you can connect to people anywhere around the world.

What's missing in all digital communication right now?

Connecting everyone equally. Only 5 billion people are connected to the internet. In Africa, 50% of them are using 2 or 3G technology. So, it's equivalent to using technology 20 years ago. We're working on making technology more equally distributed.

What would it take for people to want to work in the metaverse? 

1. They're ready for it. 

2. It's relevant to their lives

3.They understand how they could use these tools today

4. The technology user interfaces need to keep getting better

5. Devices need to get lighter. In the next five years, we'll be using our smart glasses like we’re using our phones today

What's a positive change with increased adoption of the metaverse?

It will allow us to connect with people around the world so we can understand them better. People who like to teach who can help people who aren't ready for some of this technology to learn.

What's your biggest worry about what the metaverse could bring?

The question is how to not become addictive and isolated with the metaverse. Are you using themetaverse to connect with others to have a more immersive experience? If at the end of the day, if you've been using VR/metaverse technology and you haven't had a meaningful connection with a human, you're doing the metaverse wrong. Think about: can I have a meaningful relationship with a human and not just AI?

Listen to the podcast.

Guest Bio – Doug Hohulin

After recently retiring from Nokia after 33 years (and Motorola 22 years) in account management and business development, Doug has retired to work on immersive metaverse technology full-time. He has worked with 1G-6G, automated vehicle, tele-presence, distance learning, tele-medicine, and metaversetechnologies.

About Allseated

Backed by more than a decade of innovation, Allseated sets the standard in 3D virtual reality solutions and digital experiences for the events industry. Allseated powers virtual and hybrid events for some of the world's leading corporations. In 2022, the company launched Meetaverse, a platform that makes it easy to build corporate metaverses. Allseated.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lighting Round Bonus Episode for this month's upcoming interview with Doug Hohulin

Are you Wondering what the Metaverse is? 

Allseated EXVO is now bringing the Metaverse experience to the B2B events. Learn more by downloading the Metaverse eBook. Head over to Allseated.com/E-book

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to exchange where we discuss what's next for intentional experience design with expert change agents. This season focuses on demystifying the metaverse and explaining how the foundations of this emerging reality will change how we all come together. In this podcast summary, we’re visiting with change agent, Rabindra Ratan, Associate Professor, Department of Media and Information, Michigan State University.

Does the metaverse exist?

Mostly, the metaverse doesn't exist yet. It's as if you had said the Internet doesn't exist yet in 1991. The Internet had existed for decades as a form of ARPANET and then opened up to the masses of early adopters. Yet, the phenomenon that was the Internet that changed dramatically the social and cultural fabric of everyday life just wasn't there yet.

That's where we are now with the metaverse. We've got a bunch of early adopters, willing to spend some time in a virtual world, It's accessible. You don't need to be a millionaire to jump into a virtual world and hang out with thousands of people, not simultaneously yet, but you can have immersive virtual experiences. There are metaverse-like experiences in the same way as in ‘91 with America Online.

“We'll be drawn to these spaces as individuals, as humans who want to do our human things that we do now through other media…. Companies will be drawn into these spaces with the potential to influence people through advertising, direct sales….”

The way that the Internet changed our expectations of interacting with each other is going to happen again with the metaverse. I can say meet me in this virtual world. I can assume that you can get easily from one metaverse-type experience to another in the same way as, today, we can very easily jump from one social media platform to website, to browser…. but we're not there yet. The user experience isn’tgreat. The technology is getting way better and cheaper. So, that's why we're optimistic about the metaverse. 

What does the metaverse offer in its potential?

There’s potential for stronger social interactions, feeling like you're really with someone, being able to give your grandkid a drawing or a frame, and then they make some art, and they hand it back to you. Being able to sit with your colleagues and look at an object that someone has designed, see it from all angles, and critically analyze it together. Stronger social interactions drive human motivation to do other things: build families, companies, to help each other.

We'll be drawn to these spaces as individuals, as humans who want to do our human things that we do now through other media. We might be able to do it better or more immersively in the metaverse.Companies will be drawn into these spaces with the potential to influence people through advertising, direct sales of virtual items. If you need to have a meeting where you are sharing digital objects, that metaverse makes so much more sense than really any other modality. We could sit in a 3D meet space, and then look at a 2D screen together, and kind of rotate it, but you're not getting that experience. If you're selling 3D objects, you probably want to meet and experience those things in a three-dimensional, immersive space. It's hard to fully understand and appreciate on a flat screen. 

The other piece is productivity. I have students who write research papers, they've got different monitors up, and you can bring other people into that space. Unlike a Zoom meeting where, when you're trying to share similar things, we can only share one screen at a time. It just becomes so much more efficient than in a Zoom meeting or a physical meet space. Just getting everyone around a table together and having so many people look at different screens at the same time is pretty difficult. The metaverse is not as good as it's going to be, but it's already better for some use contexts like that, regardless of what industry you're in, as long as you're kind of in an information worker role.

Why is the metaverse inevitable?

The metaverse inevitable because we humans just can't stop building new stuff. The technology is progressing incrementally. As we see the potential for the metaverse to emerge, we just run to it.

The best part of the metaverse will be?

Sharing truly connected moments. 

What's missing in all digital communication right now?

We need more human empathy. When we interact with people through mediated communication, we lose that sense of individual identity, our sense of self that allows us to temper some of the things we are likely to say to a stranger whose feelings we don't care about.

What would it take for people to want to work in the metaverse? 

We need experiences that are seamless and less fatiguing and taxing. I can put this headset on and spend an entire class period with my students. Everyone has a great time, but we are tired afterward. As augmented reality becomes easier to use and less invasive, I think it'll be easier to work in the metaverse. 

What's a positive change with increased adoption of the metaverse?

Potentially, we could see an improvement in environmental degradation. If, we can truly replace business travel with metaverse technologies, then, in theory, that would reduce our carbon footprint. At the same time, you've got to think about net change. We've got to spend all these resources on facilitating the metaverse through server time and mining crypto, if we're still doing that to support the metaverse. So, I would hope there's a net benefit in terms of climate change.

What's your biggest worry about what the metaverse could bring?

Privacy. The information the headset collects as you're moving around, involves things related to your body, the locus of your health information. If you have something you want to keep private, the headset, or at least the company using that data to allow you to move in the metaverse, might have access to that. So, we need strong privacy protections - government-supported, HIPAA-type regulations. 

Listen to the podcast.

Guest Bio – Rabindra (Robby) Ratan (taken from bio at robbyratan.com).

Rabindra (Robby) Ratan is an Associate Professor and AT&T Scholar at Michigan State University’s Department of Media and Information as well as Director of the Social and Psychological Approaches to Research on Technology-Interaction Effects (SPARTIE) Lab. Ratan researches the effects of human-technology interaction, focusing on how media technologies (e.g., avatars, agents) influence meaningful outcomes (e.g., equity, inclusion, motivation) across societal contexts (e.g., education, health, business).Learn more at robbyratan.com.

About Allseated

Backed by more than a decade of innovation, Allseated sets the standard in 3D virtual reality solutions and digital experiences for the events industry. Allseated powers virtual and hybrid events for some of the world's leading corporations. In 2022, the company launched Meetaverse, a platform that makes it easy to build corporate metaverses. Allseated.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lighting Round Bonus Episode for this month's upcoming interview with Rabindra Ratan

Are you Wondering what the Metaverse is? 

Allseated EXVO is now bringing the Metaverse experience to the B2B events. Learn more by downloading the Metaverse eBook. Head over to Allseated.com/E-book

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hybrid Event Planning Checklist For Your Success with Will Curran

Sometimes some great and talented people get held in multiple roles that they shouldn’t be in. This leads to poor performance, lack of motivation, and ultimately working below your potential. Learning how to specialize in what you do best and empowering your position can help you bring value to your organization. Specializing in one piece of the event and building a team around it will help you take your event to the next level. Do not DIY (Do It Yourself); instead, embrace DEI. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) will help you provide a lifelong value, bring new people, and get people to come back year after year. 

In this episode of the exchange podcast, we are joined by Will Curran, the founder and chief event Einstein of Endless Events. Will lead the leadership team and deal with many strategies to help clients make their events better. He also speaks at conferences about the future of events. In addition to being an event production company, they produce actual events and create a lot of content, enabling them to be the third-highest traffic website in the events industry. Their mission is to find new bleeding edge stuff to push the industry to the next level. 

During the episode, Will talks about the energy and excitement in the industry, the recipe that makes a good event, and what you need to optimize your outcome in events to create customers’ lifetime value that will sustain your organization for decades.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

[00:55] Curran’s career backstory and what he does in the event space

[03:34] Why planners aren’t prepared for hybrid experience attendees will demand in the future

[04:25] The walls that are preventing planners from moving despite their enthusiasm 

[07:49] The tools that planners need to optimize their outcome in events

[14:59] The constant broadcast and virtual events pivots  

[18:07] How learning has been made accessible in the event industry  

[23:11] The pro tips of removing barriers and bringing value in your organizations 

[27:16] Scaling your events using a hybrid to double or triple your returns  

[30:51] Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) in event planning

[38:01] Investing in lifelong customers’ value in your event 

[40:35] Budgeting right and finding the right team to make more money

[44:03] How to reach out to connect and learn more about Will

[47:23] Lightning round, question and answer session

[52:53] Call to action 

Notable Quotes:

• “The role of the planners is constantly getting bigger and more intense on their requirements of what they have to do.” Will Curran
• “When you specialize on what you do, that when you start getting better.” Will Curran
• “The barrier to the knowledge is non-existent; the only challenge is time and balance of the things that you have to do.” Nick Borelli
• Settling for the complacency and not trying to improve from is what’s going to get you stuck feeling hopeless.” Will Curran

Links Mentioned:

Will Curran

Website: https://willcurran.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willcurran

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itswillcurran/?hl=en

Twitter: https://twitter.com/itswillcurran

Nick Borelli

Email: exchange@allseated.com

LinkedIn: Nick Borelli

Twitter: Nick Borelli 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lighting Round Bonus Episode for this month's upcoming interview with Will Curran

Are you Wondering what the Metaverse is? 

Allseated EXVO is now bringing the Metaverse experience to the B2B events. Learn more by downloading the Metaverse eBook. Head over to Allseated.com/E-book

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this week’s episode of the exchange podcast, we are joined by Megan Finnell, director of meetings and conferences at Medical Group Associations (MGA). Megan has a degree in vocal performance, and she started her career in performance before transiting to meeting planning. According to her, coming from an artist perspective has really informed her meeting and event planning in creating holistic experiences. 

Event planning is a vital part of any successful event, whether hybrid, virtual, or face-to-face. However, with the current digital disruption, many event planners are fixated on a single hybrid experience. There is no way attendees on a computer will have the same experience as those on-site. Planning for hybrid events that will accommodate both traditional and digital content is the only ticket to success. So learning the pain points both in the face-to-face and virtual events to planning an optimal hybrid event is a big win.

During the episode, Megan shares about optimal event planning-based attendees’ pain points in face-to-face and digital events and staff passions to streamline efforts. We also dive into the strategies that can help you break down the silos to enhance skill utilization, improve your DX and attendees’ experience to scale up, and optimize your events for revenue generation. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

[00:01] Introduction to episode 

[00:55] Megan’s career background and how she landed in event planning

[03:44] The tools planner’s need to prepare for hybrid experiences that attendees will demand in future

[07:44] Why most event planners are fixated on a single hybrid goal 

[10:55] Purposing and designing events using content to provide value to attendees

[13:31] Planning hybrid events based on pain points in both face-to-face and virtual events 

[16:11] The main challenge in the planning and designing hybrid events  

[19:13] How to expand opportunities to find more resources or make more revenue  

[23:05] Staffing and restructuring teams based on people make up to streamline efforts 

[27:12] Reshuffling and breaking down silos to be more strategic in skills utilization

[31:16] Marketing and growing your DX in both face-to-face and virtual conversions 

[36:53] The key to the success in planning hybrid events optimally 

[39:06] How to reach out and connect with Megan and the exchange podcast team

[40:02] Question and answer session

[42:58] Call to action 

Notable Quotes:

• “There’s no way an attendee on a computer will have the same experience as someone on site.” Megan Finnell 
• “The most valuable thing attendee want is content, t; theynt to know the content that will benefit them.” Megan Finnell 
• “Most event planners got into digital events because they’re intuitive to human behavior.” Nick Borelli
• “Passion is an emotional and a rational thing.” Nick Borelli

Megan Finnell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganfinnell

Nick Borelli

Email: exchange@allseated.com

LinkedIn: Nick Borelli

Twitter: Nick Borelli 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Lighting Round Bonus Episode for this month's upcoming interview with Megan Finnel

Connect with Nick Borelli at. PCMA Sept 9-12. Make sure to catch his session Mastering the Art of Engagement for Outstanding Digital Event Experiences:

Monday 11am-12pm

Are you Wondering what the Metaverse is? 

Allseated EXVO is now bringing the Metaverse experience to the B2B events. Learn more by downloading the Metaverse eBook. Head over to Allseated.com/E-book

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Event professionals need to be prepared when it comes to hybridization. With the uptick in demand for hybrid experience, planners are primed for a lot of change in the future. The coming years will be a time of great transition. Especially now that attendees have been experiencing things differently in the new normal. It is the best time to experiment now that their habits have already been broken. 

In this episode of the exchange podcast, we are joined by Adam Parry, the co-founder, and editor at a publication called event industry news. Adam is also an event organizer, and one of the greatest things in his role is that he gets to interview and delve into the minds of people who can organize events.

Learning from others is one of those key things that make his job interesting. 

During this episode, Adam talks about change and what you need to qualify as planners to prepare for the hybrid experience that attendees will demand in the near future. Taking into consideration digital disruption and people's experiences. 

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

[00:56] Adam’s career backstory and what he does in the space

[04:39] Planner’s preparedness for hybrid experience attendees will demand in the future

[05:49] Walking in the right perspective when leading hybrid events 

[11:30] The infusion of the unprecedented dollars into the events industry

[17:12] The challenges on both physical and digital side of events in content creation

[23:38] The paradigm and the changes in live event space  

[27:22] Why there’s little forgiveness for event organizers who aren’t taking risks 

[29:11] Digitalization in the creation of more opportunities to make money

[34:22] Perspective shift to a publishing mindset in event planning

[37:07] Identifying what you need, being curious, and getting the right mindset

[41:56] Allocating time to discover and test things to enhance creativity

[44:59] Positioning yourself for the future through transformation

[47:23] How to reach out and connect with Adam

[48:48] Question and answer session

Notable Quotes:

• “One of the tools that are missed a lot in event planning is perspective.” Adam Parry
• “if you're not taking a risk now, you're never going to do it and if you're never going to do it, you're not going to thrive. Nick Borelli
• “If you want healthy and successful businesses in the event space, you need other revenue models and opportunities outside of events.” Adam Parry
• “Businesses would better if they allocated a percentage of everybody's time to go out and discover stuff.” Adam Parry
• “Most people don't like change, and that's why transformation is so slow to happen.”Adam Parry

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Upcoming Interview with Adam Parry: Lighting Round Bonus Episode

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.