A Breakdown of Hopin & ExVo

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in an increasing reliance on remote spaces for delivering virtual events. A clear benefit of virtual spaces is the ability to connect people from all over, giving them the opportunity to communicate no matter where they are in the world. In our age of instant connection, fostering links with others while using meeting software should be easier than ever before, right?

In an ideal world, that answer would be “yes.” But is that always the case? No, not always.

A clear criticism of the virtual communication landscape that has emerged throughout the pandemic is its inability to replicate the qualities that we value in in-person experiences. A key characteristic of the in-person experience that is difficult to replicate within remote environments is non-verbal communication. Non-verbal communication is distinctive in that it can initiate side conversations, which inherently results in connection. Spurring such distinctive non-verbal communication tactics in the virtual sphere is not unthinkable! At Kickback Space, users can engage in side conversations within an existing group without interrupting others, creating a unique, realistic, virtual event experience.

That being said, creating immersive, community-focused, and in-person adjacent virtual spaces is not a far-fetched, impossible idea. In fact, immersive virtual software for meetings and events is already out there.

Getting Non-Immersive to Deliver Virtual Events and Build Connections

The immersive-levels of meeting software in the virtual world can be broken down into three categories: non-immersive, semi-immersive, and fully-immersive. Focusing specifically on non-immersive virtual reality (VR) for meetings, users can communicate with each other through digital avatars and/or their webcam video.

In non-immersive platforms such as Hopin and Allseated exVo, we can see how efforts have been created to encourage community and connection on meeting softwares through aspects that mirror in-person events, whether they are work meetings, networking, or simply event experiences.

In-person events are indeed returning, but virtual ones are also here to stay. The only option then, it seems, is to explore VR meeting softwares that are designed to virtually foster connection and engagement on a remote-level. Impractical? Definitely not.

Let’s explore some non-immersive, engagement-driven VR meeting software!

Allseated exVo: A 3D Expo Community

In Allseated’s virtual event platform exVo, users can navigate and explore a virtual expo environment, mirroring in-person events in the virtual world. Using avatars, attendees can move around a unique, virtual expo space to network, speak with other attendees, and listen to speakers.

Generating a sense of “community belonging,” users in the Allseated exVo space can experience remote face-to-face interactions anywhere by moving through a virtually 3D expo venue. In one-on-one discussion, group video discussions, private and group chats, and live Q&As onstage, exVo allows for more natural and organic interactions — a difficult feat in the virtual world.

With different event types–Conferences, Trade Shows, Corporate, Brands, and Meetings–Allseated exVo is built for engagement and shared experience first. Once in, users are autonomous, as every decision is left up to Allseated exVo’s attendees: they decide where to go, what content they want to consume, and who to talk to.

Offering a game-like interface, Allseated exVo users can float through this VR meeting space in podiums that double as body placeholders. With a unique event-going experience, Allseated exVo attempts to blur the lines between in-person and virtual event experiences.

Pricing: Pending

Hopin: Engagement at a 2D Event

Similar to Allseated exVo, Hopin is a virtual, non-immersive meeting software and event-management platform that strives to create event experiences and spur connections among audience members no matter where they are. In Hopin’s virtual world, feeling is key — or, engagement is key, that is. Feeling engaged is key to a successful Hopin user experience.

The interactive space on Hopin’s platform is presented to users in a 2D virtual environment versus the 3D-and-movable Allseated exVo event experience and the ability of Kickback Space to move around virtual, realistic 3D spaces. While Hopin users can explore interactive expo environments, they cannot do so on the realistic scale that is available to them on Allseated exVo and Kickback Space.

Like Allseated exVo, Hopin users can “hop in” to virtual stages (events), where they can interact with speakers through the “stage chat” and “event chat.” Attendees of a Hopin event can watch keynotes and live Q&As, break out into group sessions, send messages via the chat feature, and explore various expos. Users even have the ability to direct message other attendees or begin video calls with them, where they can have one-on-one conversations while inside an event without distracting anyone.

Both Hopin and Allseated exVo go beyond regular work meetings in their VR software. In Allseated exVo’s “Meetings” versus Hopin’s “Internal Events,” users can access conference rooms and contribute to all-hands meetings and project spaces; Hopin’s “Internal Events,” though majorly an event space, can also encourage collaboration through pre-built integrations.

In the Hopin’s “Internal Events,” employees can network, attend keynotes, and ask questions; employees can additionally use integrations such as Miro, Slido, and Kahoot (a definite employee favorite, I’m sure) to collaborate and brainstorm.

Pricing: Hopin offers four plans for your conferencing needs, ranging from $0/month to $799/month.

Conclusion

Though our society is reentering the world, remote events and forms of communication are here to stay. With this in mind, it is crucial that VR meeting software that host virtual events reflect the components of in-person events that we value: vibrant and insightful conversations, collaboration, engagement, and connection.

Kickback Space aims to promote connection through providing users with a more human experience, speaking directly to the qualities of realistic spaces that we create through in-person interactions.

Like Allseated exVo, Kickback Space users can move around a 3D space to engage in conversations with others, helping to eliminate screen barriers. In Kickback Space, users can project real-time video into 3D environments to boost engagement versus Allseated exVo, where event attendees can project an avatar-version of themselves or stream their video (though users have experienced video lag). Sound-wise, Kickback Space enhances user experience by providing spatial audio to its users, while Allseated exVo does not.

When interacting with others behind a screen, it goes without saying that engagement and communication are key to fostering effective connections. Kickback Space focuses on delivering a virtual environment for users that prioritizes boosting engagement through realistic interactions.

In the world of VR meeting software, Kickback Space succeeds in giving users an effective and realistic virtual experience. The importance of a realistic virtual experience cannot be understated: realistic authenticity plays a crucial role in helping users develop more meaningful relationships to feel better connected in the virtual space.

About the Author

Brett Zach is the Lead Editor of Kickback Space, a VR meeting software centered on creating a more human experience to drive communication and connection.

References

Hopin, “Event Technology Platform for Virtual, Hybrid, and Online Experiences.” https://hopin.com/lp/home.

Hopin, “Pricing — Flexible Plans for Every Organizer.” https://hopin.com/pricing.

Allseated exVo, “Allseated’s Virtual Event Platform, exVo.” https://allseated.com/exvo/blog/allseateds-virtual-event-platform-exvo/.

Allseated exVo, “Virtual and Hybrid Events Platform.” https://allseated.com/exvo/.