Being unable to experience the physical presence and intimacy of a real-life meeting has always been a downside of virtual meetings. It is common to hear attendees of multiple-participant video conferences complain about feeling disconnected. They often report the absence of a sense of space, difficulty in tracking conversation threads, and a lack of private side-conversations. Not to mention the problem of overlapping speech when multiple people try to contribute at the same time. With video conferencing becoming an essential tool in today’s work culture, these issues continue to escalate, diminishing the effectiveness of such meetings.
But hang on! Katmai Tech has come up with an ingenious solution, as detailed in their recently published patent titled "Navigating a virtual camera to a video avatar in a three-dimensional virtual environment, and applications thereof" (US11741674B1). They propose a tech solution that allows users to digitally traverse and explore a tailored 3D world during the meeting. Picture co-workers maneuvering their way through a digitally-designed boardroom or employees brainstorming in a virtual lounge. With this technology, participants can orient themselves within this virtual conference space, have distinct conversations in different corners of the room, and navigate the meeting as they would in a physical setting.
The new arrangement goes beyond our current understanding of video conferences, bridging the distance between the virtual and physical. It emulates real-life physical engagements, enabling more engaging and human-like interactions.
Imagine a future where online meetings become a tech-powered journey, with users free to roam around a digital world, observing and interacting with others as they would in a physical meeting. A one-on-one conversation could happen on a virtual balcony overlooking lush greenery while the group discussion happens in a virtual conference hall. The days of static, unidirectional speeches may be numbered with dynamic, multi-location conversations becoming the norm.
It's important to note this is just a patent at the moment, and there is no guarantee that it will turn into a product available on the market. However, it gives us a fascinating glimpse into the possibilities of a future where virtual and physical spaces merge seamlessly, making remote working significantly more engaging and humanizing our digital interactions. Patents such as this can transform the way we work, learn and socialize, shaping the next era of virtual communication.
P.S. Remember, patents are the first step towards turning an ingenious idea into a marketable product, but not all patents see the light of the product shelf. We can only keep our fingers crossed for this one!