Facebook’s Connect 2021 Conference Previews the Future of Digital Connection

Now that it has changed its name to “Meta,” Facebook is indicating that it is shifting its focus to include the expanding metaverse notion, which it believes will play a role in people and Facebook (or “Meta”) evolving their interacting processes in nearly every aspect.

As a result, Facebook has showcased some of the next level innovations at its annual Connect AR/VR conference, including new AR tools, advanced VR options, and other longer-term hardware projects.

Here’s a rundown of some of the most important announcements.

Horizon Home

Even though it has been declared that no one business will own the space, we all know Facebook will try nonetheless. Horizon Home is Facebook’s primary thrust here, and it’s embedded within the Oculus VR experience.

Facebook explains:

“Soon, you’ll be able to invite your friends to join you in Horizon Home, where you can hang out, watch videos, and jump into games and apps together.”

As shown in the video, users can exchange messages, make video or audio conversations, and schedule virtual meetings. In the near future, users will be able to ‘enjoy the intensity of live events from the comfort of home’, including NBA games and other sports within the facility.

No other Facebook metaverse initiative would be possible without it. While it may not be the most intriguing or enticing of the company’s latest announcements, without it, nothing else works.

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will also be available in VR, giving an even more immersive experience for millions of GTA fans worldwide. 

While VR gear sales are increasing and more developers are joining the fray, no huge, compelling VR titles have yet emerged to make it a more widespread consideration. The technology is appealing to specialised gamers, but the true challenge for VR is enticing the public and getting them to talk about their VR experiences.

With some work – and no photos or examples to provide yet – GTA in VR might be the item that substantially promotes VR adoption. For comparison, GTA games have sold over 350 million copies globally, with the most recent selling 150 million. This is a vast fan base eager for this next-level experience.

VR for business

Facebook is also working on new VR technologies to support WFH. The company claims it will soon begin testing its new ‘Quest for Business’ platform, which will allow users to log into their Quest VR headsets with a Work Account, allowing for collaborative work settings while working remotely.

With the ability to “carry your work from your monitor to Quest 2 and back again”, it may be even more useful than real desks or spaces.

In addition to Slack, Dropbox, Facebook and Instagram will soon work in VR as 2D panel apps in Horizon Home, which can be downloaded via the Quest Store. These interfaces will allow for more collaborative work alternatives, which will boost productivity and engagement.

AR Development

Facebook also announced new training programmes for budding digital creators and better spatial comprehension in AR, which will enable new types of display and engagement. On the training front, Facebook launched a new ‘Polar’ AR creation software that would allow anyone to construct AR experiences without prior art, design, or programming skills.

Facebook is also adding new AR creative classes to Coursera and edX, as well as a new certification procedure within its Spark AR platform.

The company is also investing $150 million to “skill the next generation of creators developing engaging instructional content.” A wider range of AR engagement and interaction choices across Facebook’s apps is enabled by elements like these, which widen the pool of creativity beyond Facebook’s own development teams.

Facebook is also working on advanced AR features like body tracking and geo-anchored ‘World AR’ experiences. Snap already offers both, with Facebook catching up. Digital overlays will be revealed through the frames, enabling a range of additional utility and entertainment choices. 

The company is also working with BMW on AR capabilities that could assist drivers navigate. It will be a big player in the AR competition, and it will be intriguing to see where its AR glasses can go beyond the initial Ray Ban Stories concept. 

The Next Level of Development

In addition to real-time 3D reconstructions of humans, Facebook is working on wristbands that can detect nerve impulses and trigger digital responses. All of these will be important in the future of digital connectivity, which may seem distant now, but will be here sooner than you think.

The future of digital connection will be virtual, as seen by the growing popularity of NFTs and other digital-only projects. Consider how much time young people are spending in Fortnite, Roblox, and other virtual worlds during the pandemic, and how it will affect their interaction behaviours. 

Everything will change as a result of this, and for marketers, it means fresh opportunities to learn, adapt, and enhance your approach.