What are the best ways to build professional relationships in Virtual Reality (VR)?

As a dedicated research scholar and developer in AR/VR technology, I understand the paramount importance of patience in the development process. Crafting a flawless product demands time and perseverance, distinguishing this field from other competitive industries. The intricate nature of AR/VR development necessitates a steadfast commitment to achieving perfection. Moreover, it is crucial to note that this sector is poised for substantial market growth in the upcoming years, signifying an impending boom in the industry.

Dive into VR meet-and-greets like a pro—suit up your avatar in business casual and hit those virtual conferences. Think of them as your unconventional golf courses where deals are struck. Slide into VR forums and coworking spaces; they're the new corner offices. Share your two cents in workshops—be that guru in the digital dojo. And hey, mind your VR manners—no one likes a space invader. After you've schmoozed in the metaverse, circle back with a LinkedIn request, old-school style. Keep showing up, be that familiar face in the crowd of pixels. It's all about making those pixelated handshakes count.

Recognise that not all VR platforms are designed for social networking. Some platforms are focused on immersive training scenarios & professional development. To build professional relationships effectively, understanding the platform's purpose is crucial. When using a social VR platform, you can engage in casual conversations, attend virtual events,& network in a relaxed manner. However, on immersive training platforms, your focus should be on skill development & knowledge acquisition, and networking might be a secondary aspect. By understanding the purpose of the platform, you can adapt your interactions & leverage the unique opportunities each type of VR environment offers for building professional relationships and advancing your career

Today visiting the right platforms is key. While fun platforms like rec room, remio, and vrchat will offer you more opportunities to meet new people much of the will be there to have fun and less interested in professional networking. Glue, RAUM, Arthur and Engage are by far the best platforms for professional networking as they run regular meet up events where you can have serious conversations. My personal favourite is glue in thier beautiful coffee house location.

VR spaces are an amazing opportunity for all collaborators working on real life structures. For example, architects could "visit" 3D models of their work, or simply be immersed in a 360 degrees environment. If well implemented, it could become a necessary tool for the cinema and the game industry

Your avatar should reflect what YOU want out of it. A cartoonish avatar with humanoid figures might work if you're trying to show off your modeling skills. Of course, there are limits as well and there is a baseline of respect that should be carried, regardless of the platform you're presenting yourself on. Your posture will matter more than your avatar, provided you're not a blob or an explicit avatar.

From my personal experience, the easiest and best way to get your personalized avatar that works with most metaverses is simply to go directly to Ready Player Me and create one within minutes (there are other alternatives) but as far I know this is the best way to create an avatar that works anywhere. For more special/professional use cases you can seek support with scanning and creation of more realistic avatars such as metahuman.

As the article states, your avatar is your virtual representation and identity in VR. How would you dress and which impression would you like to give if you were assisting to a real-life interview or a networking conference? What applies to your normal life, you can apply it to virtual reality.

In my experience, I would say, be genuine and show interest in others while maintaining respect and courtesy. Offer assistance, collaborate, and share valuable content to contribute positively to the VR community. Active participation in VR events and discussions is crucial for meeting people and strengthening connections. After initial meetings, exchange contact information, send personalized thank-you notes, and stay engaged through various VR platforms.

I actually find more whacky, outlandish avatars would be an easier ice breaker, from experience with my gamertag, it often sparks conversation and welcomes deeper communication, as long as the avatar is SFW there shouldn't be rules or guides to follow, for example, if I were to have a job interview in a 9-5, office based or even retail job, I'd be expected to go in a suit... I don't even own a suit anymore, I could wear joggers and a t-shirt to a job interview and it wouldn't change opinions as its not about your visual representation but your mental representation and what you know.

I frequently find that going back to the basics solves many problems. Basic decency shouldn't be left behind when we move into a new virtual world. VR presents the obvious problem of people presenting themselves through a mask. In good theater training, we are trained to respect the mask. We acknowledge that the mask itself is communicating something, even before we inhabit it. Taking time to choose the mask, understanding what it is projecting, and then taking responsibility for the real communication you are creating through it are important steps to clear, meaningful & vibrant communication. VR and use of avatars is no different. Practicing courteous and respectful communication in the VR space can be a great training ground for IRL.

I believe this goes without saying that to build a better virtual world we should do our best to behave respectfully towards the others. Nevertheless, despite this common knowledge and rules given by each metaverse, users tend to test the limits of what is possible in these new virtual realms. I'm not a big fan of regulations but I believe that we will see more of those coming into this space. Till then try to be in the metaverses that align with your preferences and offer tools to feel safe.

Just like in most areas of life - avoid being an asshole, act as though you are in real life i.e. your actions have consequences and remember - people in XR/VR are people in real life. Apply the campsite rule - leave it in a better place than you found it. Be that conversation, passing on knowledge in a game, or in how you present yourself. It's like in real life: be respectful of others minds, presence and personal space. Be positive; don't be a comment troll; add value. Keep in mind staff codes of conducts apply just like in real life. While developers need to facilitate spaces that are built for good, employers/HR need to ensure they take interactions online as seriously as they do in person, and address issues if/when they arise.

Just as much as phone calls are taken seriously, the experience of XR should be seen similarly. Spending time in these worlds with full immersion can leave lasting mental impressions on the user, fostering empathy where even phone conversations cannot. People remember their time in XR spaces like they remember locations in the physical world. They create cherished memories there, and even mourn when their virtual homes are decimated as platforms die and others arise. Though there are games in XR, as a technology, it is not a game. Modern romanticism: All of your senses minus your ability to touch and smell. As other senses heighten, understand that your actions in this space may affect those virtually around you at a deep level.

In the era of deep fakes, I do not believe in the opinion of my coauthors, that MetaVerse will be a place to respect rules, but rather that people will be engaged in creation and consumption more than making conflicts compared to real world. I also believe that connecting accounts to government IDs could to some point moderate behavior when the number of such platforms will not be large.

Depending on the platform you're using, this is a key point to remember a few things: * Take advantage of all the expressive tools your platform offers to you. Really get to know the UI and the product before joining any sort of event. If you are able to, set aside at least a week's worth of time to get acquainted with the space. * Spend time with the community and get to know the general etiquette of those who frequent the platform. Just like you would when moving to a new place or getting to know another culture, each virtual platform has its own special rules of engagement. * Wear headphones! This will help to reduce any sort of audio spilling back into the space and causing unwarranted audio pollution on the other end. * Be yourself!

In my experience, "the communication" in VR is still not there. One of the key things is missing eye contact which Homo sapiens seek so intensely. There is a big step ahead on the horizon, that could have been spotted in the latest interview between Lex Fridman and Mark Zuckerberg. Hyperrealistic avatars will open a new way of how we will proceed the communication. Till then, please while being in the VR spaces to your best to be "in" the communication with a clear focus on those whom you are interacting with (you might benefit more and dramatically affect the quality of communication by doing so).

I would agree that communication in VR lacks emersion and tactile and proper locomotion and much more. So, we should be using gamification techniques to facilitate societal functions and motivate people using it while improving technology.

In my experience, it is great to try to bridge the virtual realms and connect in the real world. This gives your newly formed friendship and connections even bigger meaning in both worlds.

I often find having gaming sessions on a weekly/monthly basis a good way of networking either my colleagues, we'd often have both personal and work related conversations here... just make sure you're not too overbearing, it always goes both ways, when people are in VR, they're usually there for a reason.. often spamming invites or trying to join someone else's session can be overwhelming and not in a good way

In my 10+ years of experience, ‘Virtual Handshakes, Real Connections’ is the lesson I’ve learned. Building professional relationships in VR is an ongoing process that requires follow-up and maintenance. It’s important to exchange contact information with the people you meet in VR, and ask for their permission before adding them to your network or sending messages. Show your appreciation by sending a brief and personalized thank you note after the event, and share relevant and valuable content with them. Invite them to other events or opportunities that might benefit them or that you think they would enjoy, and offer your support, advice, or collaboration if you have something to offer. VR can lay the foundation for meaningful prof bonds.

Be open and use Web3 technologies. I believe, VR will be the first place to bring the power of Web3 and smart contracts to life.

One of the ways that brought me into VR was through VR hackathons, which led me to present it in a local VR meetup. I met my cofounder and created over five titles being used in the industry. If you are a do-er, show it through tangible action and be seen. Help your community by contributing through education/training.

While I agree with most of the above, I think it makes sense, given the early stages we're [still] in, to foster relationships outside of VR first, and then go in-world together. That way you already have a topic to discuss, and pursue the activity, whether that's creating or planning, or anything else. I wouldn't say that right it's a space you can go into to network right now, that'd come across as rather weird.

All the previous points apply to real life as well. Just remember how you want to be treated and do that. We are all people at the end of the day and whoever you're talking with will respond to how you conduct yourself. So, apply the ABC. (Always Be Classy)

There are several ways to establish professional relationships in Virtual Reality (VR). Some of the best methods include attending virtual networking events, participating in industry-specific virtual communities, and collaborating on projects with other professionals in VR. Additionally, using VR to showcase your work and skills can help you build a strong professional reputation and attract potential clients or partners.

AR/VR Hackathons like the MIT Reality Hack stand out as pivotal events for AR/VR professionals seeking more than competition – they're hubs for collaboration and connection. Engaging in such hackathons, we find ourselves immersed in teamwork, which does more than just unite us for the moment; it fosters enduring relationships. My own experience is a testament to this: a teammate I met at the hackathon became a collaborator as we clinched the winning spot together. Our connection has outlasted the event itself, keeping our professional ties strong and active.