"The metaverse is coming - and it's going to be big": The motto was the program. At the "Break New Ground" innovation conference, Deutsche Telekom partner companies and start-ups presented their solutions for the era when the Internet and reality merge.
Take a stroll through a museum with friends who are far away? Or immerse yourself in a live concert? Show others how the machines work by means of a digital twin of the factory floor? What will the Metaverse make happen? Just as with "cyberspace" in 1996, there is no general definition for it. It is also unknown where it will lead. One thing is certain: The metaverse will be an equally important concept as the Internet. It will influence businesses and consumers in the coming years. So-called "XR technologies" have evolved to support Metaverse experiences. XR is a catch-all term for Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), among others. The former adds additional images, videos, graphics and text to reality, perceived through special glasses or a cell phone. Virtual Reality brings us into a completely different, computer-created world. "Break New Ground" offered examples of both - and more.
"Data privacy and security are fundamentally important to us," stressed host Sean Seaton (l.). Deutsche Telekom relies on a partner ecosystem. DT is committed to the further development of XR technology and research into its possibilities, so that the network and new applications can work together as a perfect fit. To this end, the company also offers special programs for developers, startups and creatives, such as the "Snapdragon Spaces Program". Sven von Aschwege from DT (r.) was connected live as a hologram - made possible by the startup Imverse. "At our conference three years ago, this was only possible as a recording and with far more effort," he said. That shows how fast the technological world is turning. © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
A journalist from the Austrian public broadcaster ORF used the technology to report as a hologram from the "marketplace" in the neighboring hall. © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
The journalist also tried out Volucap's deepfake technology and got the face of actress Emma Watson. The start-up is currently "reinventing cinema", as the news magazin Focus headlined in its online news section. © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
Using complex camera technology, the experts at Volucap film actors and extras from all directions. This creates 30 3D images per second enabling numerous special effects. For example, exchanging faces for stunt scenes. Or the equally realistic placement of recorded extras, for example in restaurant or concert scenes. The team already provided special effects for the production of the film Matrix 4. For example, it built the world's first underwater studio for 360 degree shots of people. This allows completely new sequences with the actors copied into it. For example, floating in any room. Almost magic. © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
Also magical: the presentation by the start-up Zaubar. For example, it enables city tours or "time travel" with Augmented Reality, that is, additional information about the surroundings via cell phone or AR glasses. At the marketplace, Zaubar invited visitors into the virtual players' cabin of the football club Borussia Dortmund, BvB, to explore the club's history, for example. Or to have the stars appear next to them. The monitor on the left here shows the cell phone pointed at the scenery. In this case, the players Youssoufa Moukoko and Niklas Süle appear in the "cabin". © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
On stage: With artificial intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality and spontaneous shouts from the audience, Zaubar caused astonished faces. at the keyword "favorite carpet", the AI created this pattern on the virtual stage floor - moderator Lisa Neunkirchen sat down on it. © Deutsche Telekom
Just a few steps to your own avatar: The start-up Trace showed how anyone can become part of virtual worlds with its solution, for example for product presentations and training courses. © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
The team from Spree is focusing on entertainment, the kind that, according to statistics, is increasingly in demand in large shopping centers. For example, "Bumper Cars": While on the move with bumper cars and glasses, virtual attacks from the air have to be fended off using head movements. © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
Here everything is about playing the steel drum. However, it's not about the real instrument, which only serves as an eye-catcher here. The Dingolé team from the Caribbean had brought along the Panjam solution. This enables everyone to play melodies on virtual steel drums, ... © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
... without even mastering an instrument: thanks to virtual reality, which provides the right hand movements in addition to the beat. © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
Ashraf Hamed of SAP is considered an innovation pioneer - always looking to discover new things and thus help companies create new value. He uses market trends like the Metaverse as inspiration for new business software. From a business perspective, he sees key areas in the metaverse as "collaboration" and just as "simulation," for example for urban planning. And also, "real world overlay"; he gave the example of digital twins of machines here. "Today is the best time to collaborate and build new use cases," Hamed said. The way forward is shaping up in the example of the younger generation: Children would use Metaverse applications intuitively. "They already pay more for their digital outfit than for real sneakers." © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
Also in the spotlight: Deutsche Telekom's own developments such as the app for soccer viewers. With the help of AR technology, in the living room an interactive pitch is created using the smartphone, including live statistics, starting lineups and player portraits. Daniel Aslam from Deutsche Telekom demonstrated this on stage with Lisa Neunkirchen ... © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
For Deutsche Telekom, one thing is clear: "We are where our target group is. Since the brand is intended to appeal to younger people, there has also been a Magenta presence on the Roblox online platform since this year: "Beatland", a virtual club experience. This makes Deutsche Telekom the world's first telecommunications company with a Metaverse experience on Roblox. Playing, dancing or working - in "Beatland" users take part in the action by roleplaying. © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
In the afternoon, startups from the Hubraum and Snapdragon Spaces programs came together to pitch. Which is the most-loved digital solution? The audience voted. And the winner is ... © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
... the team of Tiny Giant Heroes: Chris Papenfuß, Catherine Timotheou and Maura Widjaja. With their creative technology, the three want to enable all children to develop emotional intelligence and have fun doing it. To do this, they rely on a mix of AR, fun and games, and interactive storytelling developed with experts. © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
A screenshot from www.tinygiantheroes.com. In the center here: "Robin Bird", the bird that interacts with children. Tiny Giant Heroes takes them into stories. In them, the animal friends encounter difficulties that require resilience. © Tiny Giant Heroes
In the end, everyone should be a winner. The day made it clear: The still emerging metaverse needs exchange, designers, developers, creativity, a precisely fitting network and above all: applications focused on people. This also means watching the younger generation today. How do they move in digital worlds? Because one thing is certain: they are not only the consumers of tomorrow. They are also the creators. © Deutsche Telekom /Jörg Heupel
