Conect - An application for hybrid conferences

Abstract

For the IEEE ISMAR 2021 contest, we propose Conect, an application allowing natural social interactions to build next generation hybrid conferences. Our application works on a smartphone and a classical computer. A video projector is used at the real-world conference site and displays the names of remote attendees on the floor. On-site attendees can scan the projected names with the mobile app and communicate with remote attendees. This application allows natural interactions between on-site and remote attendees through video calls, a feature absent from current virtual world apps. Since it requires using everyday-life devices only, Conect is an non-intrusive application, easy to use and to deploy, focusing on improving awareness and preserving the experience of real-world conferences.