The immersive technology market and demand for immersive content is rapidly expanding. As individuals look to be drawn more deeply into collaborative experiences, organisations must implement technology that will awaken users’ senses and allow them to experience moments, connections and objects even if they are not really there.
From corporate scenarios, to visitor attractions and educational institutions, audio visual (AV) technology is at the heart of the immersive experience. Through high quality video, sharp audio and interactive content, AV can transform the user experience from one of observation to total immersion, transporting users to new realms, advancing educational attainment and creating deep and meaningful connections.
Immersive AV applications
The growing demand for immersive AV environments is particularly evident in the corporate space, with organisations looking to reinvent customer experience centres, think tank spaces, and executive conferencing suites. Through the expert blend of audio and visual stimuli that immersive AV offers, users can feel more emotionally connected with core messaging, be more inspired by deeper thinking and feel better invested in team collaborations.
Immersive AV is also uniquely positioned to augment storytelling for heritage and visitor attractions, allowing them to bring the past to life and provide engaging educational exhibits that improve learning outcomes. Similarly, in the education sector, immersive technologies can be used to improve brand engagement, create interactive learning environments and harness the power of augmented and virtual reality to deliver teaching in new and exciting ways that appeal to a digitally nurtured generation.
Further applications of sensory aids in healthcare, interactive retail product displays and VR art exhibitions demonstrate the far reaching benefits of immersive AV and suggest that we are only just scratching the surface of the immersive experience.
These experiences can be achieved through a mix of audio and video applications, architectural lighting, kinetic effects, and other sensory stimulations. When implemented in conjunction with the correct room layout and lighting, these AV elements can combine to submerge the user in a new and augmented reality.
If your organisation wants to deliver more immersive experiences for clients, employees, partners, students or other users here is some useful guidance that you might like to consider in the planning process.
What technology to use?
Once you have a good understanding of your organisation’s specific requirements in terms of who the immersive experience is for and what outcomes you want to achieve, it’s time to consider the hardware and software that will enable you to meet these goals. Though off-the-shelf technology can be used in some cases, bespoke solutions will generally deliver the best results. You’ll need to consider the optimal size for your video component – with large format displays being the most popular across business conferencing, retail and entertainment applications. Then there is the choice between LED display or projection technology, which may be determined by the resolution you require or any limitations in terms of mounting devices. Finally, you will need to consider the audio element, which will generally be well integrated with the video element if you choose a bespoke solution. Good audio is vital to engagement as it helps to create the emotional connections that are so important to immersive experiences.
What about the environment?
The greatest AV technology can be let down by a poorly designed environment, which is why it’s so important to consider space design, acoustics and lighting when creating immersive experiences. Whether it is a corporate reception area, interactive classroom, training room or conferencing space, room design can have a significant impact on the immersive audiovisual experience by:
- Creating a space that fosters effective communication and collaboration.
- Optimising acoustics to deliver crisp, clear audio.
- Integrating video displays that produce high resolution visuals to maximise impact.
- Providing easy to access and use controls that put the user in charge of the immersive experience.
How can users get the most from their immersive experiences?
Immersive AV technology captivates audiences by engaging multiple senses. Through the use of high-resolution projectors, advanced sound systems, and innovative lighting, spaces can be transformed and users can be transported into new worlds. Interaction is the key to entering these new realms. Without the interactive elements, users and audiences won’t feel like active participants. This is why it is important to ensure audio, visual and lighting elements are synchronised and that augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) elements are seamlessly integrated.
In conferencing and event scenarios, immersive AV technology can be used to drive audience engagement by transforming static presentations into dynamic and interactive experiences. Remote attendees can be connected in real time, delivering a more collaborative experience for all and through the use of multimedia elements, Q&A sessions and interactive polls, participants can feel actively engaged.
How can AVI-SPL help?
At AVI-SPL we understand the challenges organisations face in delivering effective AV technology solutions that engage, enthuse and emotionally connect all participants. That’s why we have developed our local Major Projects team – a highly qualified and experienced team of experts who can transform the way your organisation interacts. From initial assessment to the design, installation and integration of your chosen immersive AV technologies, we provide ongoing support to ensure your ever evolving business goals are being met.
Our Major Projects team for the UK & Ireland region also works closely with a specialised, award-winning global team of experts XTG, the AVI-SPL Experience Technology Group. The launch of this dedicated business unit was in response to increased demand for brand and employee experiences by the world’s largest companies and organisations. XTG delivers an end-to-end portfolio of experiential technology solutions by continually growing our ecosystem of partners. Our strategic partnerships with a broad ecosystem of architects, experienced designers, brand agencies, fabricators, consultants, and top technology providers allow us to offer presales design services, advanced engineering, and project management as an integrated solution with a single point of contact.
“XTG recognizes the symbiotic relationship between people, physical space, and technology. By leveraging cutting-edge advancements in digital technologies, it is focused on delivering high impact, immersive experiences that elevate the employee experience and customer engagement for better business outcomes.”
(Roopam Jain, VP of Research, Information and Communications Technology at Frost & Sullivan)
AVI-SPL collaborated with our partner Downstream, the lead designer creating the immersive end-to-end experience, to integrate the AV solutions for the Standard Life Innovation Lab – enabling the financial services provider to create and deploy solutions for clients, advisors, and partners. The Innovation Lab was launched to deliver an immersive experience relevant to the brand and audience. Through the use of a welcome wall, interactive large format displays, a digital canvas, connected digital devices and AR/VR experiences, the organisation has been able to identify pressing customer challenges and showcase and collaborate on proposition development with clients. Find out more about the integrated AV solutions we provided for this project by reading the case study.
To start a conversation about introducing immersive AV technology into your organisation, or to find out more about the capabilities of our Major Projects team please visit the AVI-SPL website.
