现代(Modern)虚拟现实（VR）终于好了。让 90 年代和 2000 年代的 VR 变得糟糕的所有问题基本上都得到了解决。它并不完美，但 VR 终于为主流使用做好了准备。那么，一个普通人实际上想用 VR 做什么呢？
除了众多的娱乐选择外，VR 实际上还有一些非常酷的专业用途。虚拟办公室，您可以在其中拥有仅在 VR 中具有传统桌面的私人空间，这意味着您可以将您的个人工作空间带到任何地方。
这也意味着您现在可以与同事共享虚拟空间并进行协作。一种更加身临其境和自然的方式来工作或与可能在世界其他任何地方的人会面。这不仅仅是一个 Skype电话会议(conference call)。一旦您体验了一个好的VR 会议(VR meeting)包所提供的临场感，就很难再回到屏幕上的 2D 面孔。
这就是为什么我们一直在寻找最有希望在虚拟现实中举行会议的应用程序。
我们在寻找什么(What We’re Looking For)
在某些情况下，有些功能使VR 会议(VR meeting)应用程序比其他应用程序更具吸引力。当无法访问VR 硬件(VR hardware)的用户仍然可以加入时，我们真的很喜欢它。事实上，这是至关重要的。通常这采用智能手机或平板电脑应用程序(smartphone or tablet apps)的形式，并混杂一些奇怪的桌面客户端。(desktop client)
我们也更喜欢不锁定到单个VR 平台或耳机(VR platform or headset)的应用程序。VR 是一项仍处于主流采用初期的技术，因此任何会议解决方案(meeting solution)都必须尽可能具有包容性。
除此之外，这些服务有自己的利基和优势，这意味着不同的项目使用不同的解决方案会更有宾至如归的感觉。
Meetingroom.io（免费，最多 8 人）(Meetingroom.io (Free, Up To 8 People))
MeetingRoom在外观部门有点基础，但特别专注于为工作提供协作空间。这使其成为此列表中最好的 VR 生产力工具之一。该公司自称提供“空间即服务”，并可能为各种平台提供最广泛的支持。
这包括Android、iOS、OSX、Windows、Vive & Focus、Rift & Go、Windows Mixed Reality等。这是最有可能不排除任何参与者的VR 会议解决方案。(VR meeting)
会议室本身带有各种项目管理(project management)、共享和演示工具。在免费套餐中，您仅限于一间单人房，最多可容纳 8 人。还有一个到期计时器(expiry timer)，而付费套餐提供永久房间。
Rumii（免费，最多 5 人）(Rumii (Free, Up To 5 People))
Rumii是一项令人印象深刻的服务，目前在 iOS App Store中明显缺席。但是，您会在 PC、Oculus Go、Android 和 Mac(Android and Mac)上找到它。
所以实际上并没有那么糟糕，因为与您合作的 iOS 用户可能拥有其他平台之一。好消息是Rumii在他们的网站上将 iOS 列为“即将推出”，所以也许当你读到这篇文章时，这个问题就会得到解决。
在撰写本文时，开发商已经发布了Rumii 2.0，它在视觉上真正提升了游戏的性能，并为桌面带来了高级功能。最多 5 个用户免费(Free)使用，并带有 3D 对象交互，很明显，这款虚拟现实会议应用程序(reality meeting app)正在流行。
您可以拥有私人房间或参加公共聚会，高清视频流(gathering and HD video streaming)现在也是虚拟空间的一部分。Rumii绝对是您在确定首选解决方案之前必须尝试的选项之一。
vSpatial (Early Access/Pricing TBA)
vSpatial 是我们见过的在虚拟现实中举行会议的视觉效果最令人印象深刻的应用程序之一。它是从头开始构建的，是团队在虚拟空间中进行协作的一种方式。您还可以将它用作您自己的个人VR 工作区(VR workspace)，因为您可以召唤虚拟显示器并将几乎任何Windows 10应用程序带入您的VR 工作室(VR workroom)。
目前，vSpatial 需要一台 Windows 计算机(Windows computer)以及一款主流的系留 VR 耳机。不过，该公司正致力于将该应用程序引入Oculus GO 和 Quest(Oculus GO and Quest)等独立 VR 耳机。
幸运的是，那些没有合适的VR 设备(VR gear)的人并没有被冷落。您还可以使用 2D桌面应用程序(desktop app)加入对话。尽管某些最先进的 VR 专用功能显然无法正常工作。
它具有富有表现力的头像和非常有吸引力的VR 办公(VR office)空间。Windows 10 应用程序集成(app integration)特别酷。即使没有vSpatial的VR 会议功能。(VR meeting)
AltSpaceVR（免费）(AltSpaceVR (Free))
由于财务问题，我们在 2017 年几乎失去了 AltSpaceVR ，但在最后一刻(lost AltSpaceVR)微软(Microsoft)突然介入并收购了这家公司。现在，他们拥有无限的资金，仍然是业内最具创新性的VR 会议(VR meeting)空间供应商之一。
AltSpace与多种平台兼容。Vive、Oculus耳机和Gear VR是给定的，但它也可以在Windows中的 2D 模式下和Windows Mixed Reality耳机一起使用。可悲的是，Android 应用程序(Android app)已停产，并且从未支持 iOS。但是，如果您的所有参与者都可以访问至少一台 Windows 机器(Windows machine)，那么它是一个很棒的工具。
多彩的世界和艺术风格(world and artstyle)友好且易于使用。尽管不是专门为商业用途(business use)而设计的，但活动主持人拥有进行出色演示(presentations)所需的工具。
它不适合工作协作(work collaboration)，但作为一群人见面和交谈的一种方式，它是目前最舒适、最直观的解决方案之一。
几乎在一起(Virtually Together)
虽然大多数会议可能是一封电子邮件，但这些虚拟现实会议(reality meeting)应用程序非常适合您真正需要有时间以团队形式解决棘手问题的时候。
随着远程工作和零工经济工作的兴起，没有理由仅仅因为您在数英里之外就放弃面对面会议的主要优势。只需戴上这些护目镜或启动该应用程序，您就会立即在(Just slip)VR 饮水机(VR water)周围闲逛。
4 Services To Hold Meetings In Virtual Reality
Modern virtual reality (VR) is finally good. All the problems that made the VR of the 90s and 2000s awful have essentially been solved. It’s nоt perfect, but VR is finаllу ready for mainstream use. Ѕo what does a typical рerson actually want to do with VR?
Apart from the entertainment options, which are numerous, there are actually some pretty cool professional uses for VR as well. Virtual offices, where you have a private space with a traditional desktop only in VR, means you can take your personal workspace anywhere.
It also means that you can now share a virtual space with colleagues and collaborate. A much more immersive and natural way to work or meet with people who may be anywhere else in the world. This is much more than just a Skype conference call. Once you’ve experienced the sense of presence that a good VR meeting package provides, it’s hard to go back to 2D faces on a screen.
Which is why we went on the hunt for the most promising apps to hold meetings in virtual reality.
What We’re Looking For
For some context, there are some features that make a VR meeting app more appealing than others. We really like it when users who don’t have access to VR hardware can still join in. In fact, this is crucial. Usually this takes the form of smartphone or tablet apps, with the odd desktop client thrown in the mix.
We also prefer applications that are not locked to a single VR platform or headset. VR is a technology that is still in the infancy of mainstream adoption, so any meeting solution has to be as inclusive as possible.
Apart from that, these services have their own niches and strengths, which means that different projects will feel more at home with different solutions.
MeetingRoom is a little basic in the looks department, but is specifically focused on providing a collaborative space for work. This makes it one of the best VR productivity tools on this list. The company sells itself as providing “space as a service” and offers possibly the widest support for various platforms.
This includes Android, iOS, OSX, WIndows, Vive & Focus, Rift & Go, Windows Mixed Reality and more. This is the one VR meeting solution that’s most likely to exclude none of your participants.
The meeting rooms themselves come with various project management, sharing and presentation tools. On the free tier you are limited to a single room, with up to eight people. There’s also an expiry timer, whereas paid packages offer persistent rooms.
Rumii (Free, Up To 5 People)
Rumii is a seriously impressive service, which is currently conspicuously absent from the iOS App Store. You will however find it on PC, Oculus Go, Android and Mac.
So it’s actually not that bad, since the iOS users you work with are likely to have one of the other platforms. The good news is that Rumii lists iOS as “coming soon” on their site, so perhaps by the time you read this, this issue will be solved.
At the time of writing, the developer has released Rumii 2.0, which really steps up the game visually and brings advanced features to the table. Free for up to five users and with 3D object interaction, it’s clear that this virtual reality meeting app is going places.
You can have private rooms or be part of a public gathering and HD video streaming is now also a part of the virtual space. Rumii is definitely one of the options you must try before settling on your preferred solution.
vSpatial (Early Access/Pricing TBA)
vSpatial is one of the most visually impressive apps to hold meetings in virtual reality that we’ve seen. It’s been built from the ground up as a way for teams to collaborate together in a virtual space. You can also use it as your own personal VR workspace, since you can conjure virtual displays and bring almost any Windows 10 application in your VR workroom.
Right now vSpatial needs a Windows computer as well as one of the mainstream tethered VR headsets. However, the company is working on bringing the app to standalone VR headsets such as the Oculus GO and Quest.
Luckily, those without access to the right VR gear are not left out in the cold. You can also use the 2D desktop app to join in on the conversation. Although some of the most advanced VR-specific functions are obviously not going to work.
It has expressive avatars and very attractive VR office spaces. The Windows 10 app integration is especially cool. Even without the VR meeting aspect of vSpatial.
We very nearly lost AltSpaceVR back in 2017 due to financial troubles, but at the last moment Microsoft swooped in and bought the company. Now, with effectively infinite dollars, they remain one of the most innovative providers of VR meeting spaces in the industry.
AltSpace is compatible with a wide array of platforms. The Vive, Oculus headsets and Gear VR are a given, but it also works in 2D mode in Windows and with the Windows Mixed Reality headsets. Sadly, the Android app has been discontinued and iOS was never supported. However, if all your participants have access to at least a Windows machine, it’s a great tool.
The colorful world and artstyle is friendly and accessible. Despite not specifically being designed for business use, event hosts have the tools needed to do great presentations.
It’s not suited for work collaboration, but as a way for a group of people to meet and talk, it’s one of the most comfortable and intuitive solutions out there.
Virtually Together
While most meetings could probably have been an email, these virtual reality meeting applications are perfect for those times you really need to have real time to wrestle with the tough problems as a group.
With remote work and gig-economy jobs on the rise, there’s no reason to abandon the key advantages of face-to-face meetings just because you’re miles away. Just slip on those goggles or boot up that app and you’ll be hanging out around the VR water cooler in no time.
