Metaverse Working Group

[Chris Collins <>]

Meeting Minutes:  https://spaces.internet2.edu/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=98306280

Metaverse Working Group

Meeting Minutes

Date:  May 3, 2016

Time: 3:00 PM EST / 12:00 PST

Location:  BlueJeans - Info TBD

In Attendance: 

Ben Fineman, Internet2

Tom Pollock, Trinity College, Dublin

Eric Mazlowski, University of Michigan Libraries
Chris Collins, University of Cincinnati

Kai ?
Phone call-in ?

 

1. Introductions

2. (Missed some of the initial discussion)

3. Discussed the AltSpace experience from the last meeting

• Majority of MWG participants did not have VR devices to try the platform in VR, experience on 2D monitor was largely unremarkable
• In an unfortunate coincidence of timing, the Oculus Rift had a hardware update the same day as our AltSpace meeting, so Rift users who had not yet updated the firmware could not attend in the Rift
• Briefly discussed limitations of spatial audio for collaboration when people are exploring a virtual space
• Ben mentioned he'd heard of another collaboration platform, will forward when he finds more info about it
• All agreed to continue to look for additional platforms, Altspace was ok but would like to find a more open (standards/source) option, and ideally something more suited to professional collaboration
• Discussed benefits of the "psychosocial moratorium" of participating in avatar form, and industry interest in using VR for remote collaboration

4. Interest in seeking funding for VR hardware/standards development?

Discussed options to seek funding, agreed first goal would be to get members on a common VR hardware platform/ecosystem.  Other suggestions included: 

• cookbook/best practices guide; 
• develop a rubric or framework for evaluating VR hardware/software platforms; 
• evaluate collaboration platforms; 
• federated identity and security in VR; 

Preliminary Timeline:

• May - Will discuss in-person at Internet2 Global Summit
• June - Bring ideas and suggestions to June 7, 2016 meeting when project objectives will be determined, rough project outline draft in June
• July - Identify appropriate funding mechanisms and write proposals

5. Upcoming Conferences

• iED 2016 Denver or Italy - http://immersiveeducation.org/i2016
• Internet2 Global Summit - Chicago - May 15-18, 2016

 

6. Hardware/Software discussion

Eric shared Microsoft Research video about Hololens and Holoportation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d59O6cfaM0