Collaborative Armchair Design Discussion in an XR Environment
In the world of professional design, collaboration plays a crucial role in refining ideas and improving products. However, traditional meetings are often constrained by geographical distances, making it difficult for teams to efficiently work together on complex design projects. This is where the PRESENCE XR platform comes into play, enabling professionals to engage in an immersive, interactive design discussion, regardless of their physical location.
In this use case, four professionals—furniture designer Emma, materials specialist Tom, industrial engineer Lisa, and sales representative Alex—join a virtual meeting to collaboratively discuss and refine the design of an armchair. Equipped with VR headsets, each participant is represented as an avatar or a holoportation of themselves within the XR meeting space. The virtual environment features a meeting table, a 3D model of the armchair on a pedestal, a whiteboard for visual notes, and a digital panel displaying the chair’s specifications in a PDF format.
The meeting begins with Emma, the designer, presenting recent modifications to the armchair’s structure. Lisa actively takes notes and illustrates these updates on the virtual whiteboard, while Alex references the digital document to ensure all specifications are being met. Meanwhile, Tom, who specializes in material selection, interacts with the virtual chair, testing its rotation and height adjustments using his haptic gloves, which provide realistic feedback on textures and resistance.
To facilitate decision-making, three material options are placed on the virtual meeting table as interactive spheres, each replicating the consistency of different upholstery fabrics. Tom uses his haptic gloves to assess their feel, comparing them against the project’s requirements. After deliberation, the team reaches a consensus on the most suitable material, finalizing their design choices.
This seamless integration of immersive technology allows the team to work as if they were physically together, improving communication, collaboration, and efficiency. By the end of the meeting, they are confident in their design choices and ready to move forward with production, demonstrating how XR environments can revolutionize professional collaboration in design and manufacturing.
Technology Highlights:
- Holoportation: Lisa’s presence in the XR meeting room is enabled via holoportation, allowing her to participate in real time with a life-like representation.
- Haptic Feedback: Tom uses haptic gloves to assess different materials, simulating a realistic touch-based experience.
- Virtual Workspace: The XR environment replicates essential real-world collaboration tools, such as whiteboards, interactive models, and documents.
