Hybrid events

[davpeet]

Are any other organisations thinking about hybrid events as employees start to return to the workplace post the COVID-19 pandemic? What scenarios are you thinking about? What infrastructure are you thinking about for the in person portion to enable interaction between in person attendees and remote participants? What feature gaps do you see to enable hybrid events?

I'm working with an organisation that is trying to answer these and other questions. They envision creating purpose built spaces to facilitate hybrid events with: interactive video walls, virtual/hybrid partner booths, SW services/Apps to support feedback from in person and remote participants, potential use of mixed reality to give remote participants a more in person like experience (AltSpace/Azure Mesh). 

It would be great to hear from others what they think. Will events return to how they were before COVID-19, will events remain virtual/remote or is there a need for a hybrid event?

[#2]

It's a hot topic @davpeet  Here's the latest from Microsoft on the subject: New hybrid work innovations in Microsoft Teams Rooms, Fluid, and Microsoft Viva | Microsoft 365 Blog

[#3]

@ThereseSolimeno Thanks for the link. The customer is thinking beyond just the hybrid workplace and specifically how to create engaging events which blend in person experiences with remote experiences. Some ideas we came up with are:

- VC robots that remote participants can book / connect to and interact with people present in person.

- Wearable Teams devices (HoloLens/Realware) where in person participants can act as a buddy for a remote participant. 

- Mobile apps to support engagement between in person and remote participants.

- AltSpace VR representation of the physical event space so remote participants have more of a feeling of being in there in person.

- Azure Mesh / Holoportation for presenters so remote participants have a more realistic experience. 

- Virtual exhibitor booths (Surface Hubs) where in person participants can connect to a remote exhibitor / sponsor in the same way a remote participant can. 

All these require some kind of infrastructure in the physical space. The customer is looking for ideas what makes sense and how much they need to budget. 

[#4]

@davpeet Well, I can tell you that whatever you come up with, the attendees who are remote expect to have the same quality of experience as the in-person attendees.  They want to be seen, they want to be heard, and they want to be involved.