Evaluating Various Collaborative Software and Workspaces

George Lee

Goal

To see what is currently possible and showcase my discovery in a easy to view format

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Initial Proposal

Evaluate all of these:

• 3D creation
• The Wild : move 3D objects collaboratively and import custom objects (paid software, can potentially talk to sales?)
• Sketchbox : AR design tool, can export an FBX to use in Unity or Unreal (free trial)
• Nvidia Holodeck: Photorealistic design and creation space (online application)
• Virtual Simulation
• Acadicus: Library of free to use simulation content (Free basic mode, has pro subscription)
• Engage : has virtual simulation software (Freemium)
• WondaVR : create interactive presentations and simulations (Freemium)
• Virtual Workspace
• Glue: Mimic a virtual workspace including virtual whiteboards, expressive avatars, managing files, etc. (Can request a demo)
• Immersed: Allows for multiple desktops, virtual whiteboards, and collaboration (Freemium)
• Softspace: Virtual Workspace builder (Freemium?)
• Dream: large virtual desktop (Free)
• Meeting VR: 3D sticky notes and whiteboards (Free 30 Day trial)
• Spatial: Create photorealistic avatars, allow for screen sharing, upload 3D models (Free individual trial)
• Social
• Facebook Horizon : create a customized 3D play space (currently in beta, I applied but...dunno about this)
• Mozilla Hubs: web based virtual rooms, built in virtual chat and allows for content sharing like screen share/importing 3D models/etc. Can be used w/out a headset. Mozilla Hubs Spoke allows one to build 3D scenes
• Big Screen: Screen sharing, 3D drawing, cool virtual spaces to hang out and talk in

What I actually ended up doing...

• 3D creation
• Sketchbox : AR design tool, can export an FBX to use in Unity or Unreal (free trial)
• Virtual Simulation
• Engage : has virtual simulation software (Freemium)
• WondaVR : create interactive presentations and simulations (Freemium)
• Virtual Workspace
• Glue: Mimic a virtual workspace including virtual whiteboards, expressive avatars, managing files, etc. (Can request a demo)
• Immersed: Allows for multiple desktops, virtual whiteboards, and collaboration (Freemium)
• Softspace: Virtual Workspace builder (Freemium?)
• Meeting VR: 3D sticky notes and whiteboards (Free 30 Day trial)
• Spatial: Create photorealistic avatars, allow for screen sharing, upload 3D models (Free individual trial)
• Social
• Mozilla Hubs: web based virtual rooms, built in virtual chat and allows for content sharing like screen share/importing 3D models/etc. Can be used w/out a headset. Mozilla Hubs Spoke allows one to build 3D scenes
• Big Screen: Screen sharing, 3D drawing, cool virtual spaces to hang out and talk in

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Why I could not evaluate certain software:

Could not get access to the software itself:

• The Wild - did not have student license
• Nvidia Holodeck - no reply
• Facebook Horizons - no reply

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Hardware and software incompatibility:

• Acadicus - incompatible windows version
• Dream - would not load through Oculus Link but other software did

Wiki Contributions

Oculus Screenshot Wiki - quick wiki on how to take screenshots

Sketchbox - a 3D collaboration workspace allowing one to manipulate models and meshes in a virtual space.

Engage - a virtual environment that allows users to engage with 3D content in virtual lessons and simulations

Wonda VR - a collaborative workspace allowing one create their custom spaces and share with others

Glue - a collaborative meeting space with fun avatars and cool spaces

Immersed - a collaborative workspace allowing one to manipulate multiple screens and share virtual whiteboards in a 3D space.

Softspace - a design space allowing one to put down ideas in a virtual space.

MeetingVR - a virtual meeting software allowing on to collaborate with members, share screens, and content

Spatial - a virtual workspace that allows users to create lifelike avatars and work closely together sharing content and collaborating

Mozilla Hubs - a collaborative space that allows users to explore a virtual environment, play with 3D objects from Google Poly, and import various media.

BigScreen - a collaborative movie and content watching experience

In Class Activity Feedback

Pros:

• Collaborative activities were good
• Liked features such as 3D drawing whiteboard, laser pointer, regrouping with a push of button

Cons:

• Glitchy voice chat & object interactions
• Teleport function was limiting

Feature Wishlist:

• Direct convo & ability to broadcast messages
• Better avatar customization
• Interactive browsers and more file integration support

In Class Activity Results

Compact Comparison Matrix

Best Software for Collaboration

Pros:

• Ability to manipulate and play with multiple 3D objects with others
• Screen Sharing Capabilities
• App and Browser integration
• Google Drive, Slack, Figma, OneDrive, Microsoft 365 integrations

Cons:

• Uncanny Valley Avatars
• Can be difficult to navigate with teleportation

Best Software for Scientific Visualization

Pros:

• Ability manipulate and spawn a large library of animated 3D objects and effects
• Large library of content from Oxford and elsewhere
• Ability to create meeting rooms to learn and collaborate
• Can take notes and record lectures

Cons:

• Movement can be a bit laggy
• Limit to 3 users/session in the free version

Best Software for Productivity

Pros:

• Keyboard tracking so you can actually work in VR
• Ability to spawn multiple monitors and share them
• Freely manipulate the monitors or snap them to a grid

Cons:

• Limited monitor snapping capabilities
• Free version is severely limited on the collaboration front, can only go to public rooms and spawn 2 monitors

Some interesting takeaways

• All Software have some sort of 3D drawing features (implementation differs in terms of quality, type of brushes, color, etc.)
• A lot of the software use vibrations to simulate touch
• Drawing on a whiteboard in Glue, or typing on a keyboard in MeetingVR
• All software have some sort of audio chat ability although quality differs
• Most of the audio are directional audio rather than room space audio
• I prefer more cartoony avatars vs Spatial’s creepily realistic avatar
• I prefer smooth movement vs teleporting movement styles
• Surprisingly little to no lag when alone, a little different story when working with others
• A lot of these software contain bugs (unexpected crashes, jittering, etc.)

Potential Project 2

• Try to Teach something in VR (Focus on Engage?)
• Try to go deeper into Engage and see if I can create my own education experience in VR
• Look into available models within Engage and see if I can synthesize something myself or try importing some of my own models to teach something
• How can I potentially TA in VR and diving deeper into the scientific visualization part of the software, try to hold TA Hours?
• Do a comparison study of teaching/explaining a concept in VR vs real life