Global Business Leaders go 3D for North West’s first Mixed Reality Debate

Death of Distance: Tuesday 27 April, 6-7pm

The North West’s creative community is invited to join business leaders from across the globe to take part in a unique mixed-reality debate exploring how distance should not be a barrier to business communication.

Corporation Pop in Manchester is designing and managing Death of Distance, which will take place on Tuesday 27 April, 6-7pm at Vision + Media’s offices in MediaCityUK. Hosted in a 3D environment and taking place in real-time, a panel of leading business experts will participate either as avatars, by live video conference link or in person. The event will also be available to watch live online and the conversation can be followed on Twitter using #DofD.

Dom Raban, managing director at virtual consultancy Corporation Pop explains: “We believe this is the first time a mixed-reality debate has taken place in the North West and we’ve got an impressive line-up from the international business community to take part. Professionals from businesses such as IBM and BP will discuss their experiences of how new technologies can enhance collaboration, create new business opportunities, and stimulate the creative and digital supply chain. Our panel of experts will participate from the far corners of the globe including San Francisco, Brisbane and Newcastle.”

Guest speakers include experts from Second Life founders Linden Labs, Queensland University of Technology, BRC Imagination Arts and strategy company Woodholmes.

The panel of experts will be chaired by Phil Jones, sales and marketing director at Brother UK. He says: “In a globalising world that has its foot hard on the accelerator, finding new ways to connect with people have to be explored. In many cases distance is irrelevant and it is these areas the debate will look to explore. I’m particularly keen to hear about how businesses are using avatars to communicate virtually and how this affects the overall experience when compared with video conferencing. I’m really looking forward to pulling it together on the night.”

Death of Distance is inviting participation from both the real world and virtual world audiences. There are three ways to take part:

• Virtually by logging in as an avatar in the 3D auditorium – screens within the auditorium will display feeds of video conference panel members and a live video stream of the Chair and live audience at MediaCityUK
• Real life attendance at MediaCityUK – live video stream will be played from MediaCityUK into the 3D auditorium, enabling remote participants to see the invited audience
• Watch the debate live at www.virtualnorthernnet.co.uk – take part in the twitter conversation by using the hashtag #DofD

The event is being delivered through a collaboration of Corporation Pop, The White Room and The Hamilton Project. Places are limited, but those interested should register and select how they would prefer to attend by visiting www.virtualnorthernnet.co.uk