Experiences of a virtual think tank. New ways of working, knowledge development and Virtual Reality events

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) as a paradigm for casual communication and socialising is seeing increasingly high adoption rates, but since the pandemic it also sees consideration as an alternative environment for (remote) knowledge work. This study explores VR as it relates to knowledge development at scale (i.e., conferences/events), to identify barriers for adoption. The study consists of observations of a series of VR and videoconferencing events, interviews with organisers and participants, and a survey of participants. Elements of Extended Adaptive Structuration Theory were used to examine results, focusing on technological, social, and performance dimensions. Results show no clear technological obstructions for events’ outcome quality compared to conventional forms of remote collaboration. VR provides practical advantages involving non-verbal communication and immersion/presence over conventional alternatives, but lacks in other aspects (e.g., facial expressions). Organisers are still learning to work around the practical limitations of VR. Issues raised primarily relate to technology habituation, or to social interactions and the cultural coordination gaps stemming from a lack of (communication) agreements. Emphasising the advantages of VR while further developing technologies and thoughtful social conventions to alleviate the objections will further open the door to VR as a viable alternative for remote work.