HolospaceXR validation project

Project funding: European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Validation Funding Programme 2021–2027
Project team: Marius Brade, Natalie Lehnart, Nicos Lentzsch, Cora Marie Lenz, Otto Maurer

Project cooperation: New Work Design Lab (NWDL)
Duration: 18 months

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The validation project HoloSpaceXR aims to fundamentally redesign hybrid meetings through the consistent use of Extended Reality (XR) technologies. The project plans to develop and validate an immersive and equal meeting experience regardless of participants’ physical location. In the future, remote participants will be projected into the physical room as interactive avatars using virtual and augmented reality, for example as holograms with realistic spatial sound positioning (“spatial audio”).

Against the backdrop that hybrid meetings are becoming the standard in the modern workplace—and that remote participants are often disadvantaged (e.g., due to limited inclusion, reduced interaction, and more difficult non-verbal communication)—the project intends to address these disadvantages through innovative XR solutions. By combining immersive XR elements, realistic spatial representation, and novel interaction design, HoloSpaceXR aims to lay the foundation for “meetings at eye level”, enabling a form of digital spatial presence.

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Technological starting point

The New Work Design Lab previously demonstrated in the preliminary project “VR-Minilab” how real spaces and virtual avatars can be synchronized and displayed together. Building on these findings, the HoloSpaceXR project plans to further develop proprietary applications for VR headsets and multi-user solutions, ultimately creating a validated prototype.

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Validation objectives

• Market validation through corporate studies (target NPS score: 7–10)

• Technical validation of the HoloSpaceXR prototypes

• Development and evaluation of a business model, including financial planning

• Assessment of the technological maturity level

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In contrast to existing XR or videoconferencing solutions, HoloSpaceXR aims to connect physical and virtual realities in real time, including real spatial mapping, position-accurate avatars, and immersive sound environments. This advancement creates innovation potential that goes beyond traditional videoconferencing—both technologically and socially.

Within the project, there is also a clear objective to reduce business travel, thereby contributing to CO₂ reduction and climate protection. The global growth potential of XR technology, virtual meetings, and e-learning further underscores the relevance of the project.

HoloSpaceXR plans to focus on the areas of corporate collaboration, education, training, and event communication, opening up new markets. Its innovative function as a bridge between real space and virtual presence is intended to provide companies with a clear competitive advantage in an increasingly hybrid working world.

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Figure 1: Preliminary project “VR-Minilab”: a physical room (right side) is overlaid with a geometrically identical but visually different representation in the virtual environment (view from a user wearing a VR headset).

Figure 2: Target setting within the validation project: an on-site meeting (left) and the corresponding view of a remotely connected participant (right). People and objects shown in turquoise are digitally overlaid. All participants wear digital glasses that allow them to see both the real environment and digitally embedded elements.