We live for experiencing the latest and freshest tech in the events space!

So Happily was keen to explore the new virtual venue platform, NOWHERE. And firstly, any gamers reading are gonna love this one, and feel at home in this universe.

A tagline of NOWHERE is ‘experience online events with real life feels’ and that is really what is going on; it is a platform to connect in immersive 3D worlds that prioritize face-to-face conversations, and re-creating in-person interactions in a digital space.

For a quick visual intro to the world NOWHERE, watch this video.

Is NOWHERE a new platform?

Yes - it is brand spanking new! As a company they are still in their beta stage. They are open to feedback to continue to develop, build and refine the platform for the needs of event professionals and the events industry. So, we are eager to watch it grow, and flourish as a product.

What are the basics to get started?

There are no apps to download, it is all web browser based, and hosts and guests can find all they need at urnowhere.com. You create a ‘space’ with a ‘station’ (venue) and you can pick a templated ‘environment’. Similar to Zoom, you can invite people as a guest, or as a host.

Check out Sarah Shewey, our Happily CEO and Founder, explore NOWHERE with some of our specialists.

How many templated environments are there?

Currently there are 6; Blackbox, Cherry Clouds, The Base, Arco Santi Vaults, 6th Boro, Golden Pines. All the environments seem to be built with a certain type of event in mind (eg. a presentation, a reception, a party...).

Everyone has their own ‘Orbit’.

There are no avatars here. Your live video is streamed into a little pod-esque shape, like a wondrous floating head, and this is referred to as your Orbit. When a first time user is invited to a NOWHERE space, they will fill out an ‘Orbit Card’, which is basically their profile, with all their contact details ect. These ‘Orbit Cards’ act as digital business cards that are collected and stored away when you interact with someone.

NOWHERE has spatial audio. But what is spatial audio?

Just like in real life, the further someone is from you, the less you hear them. This happens in NOWHERE too. If you move your Orbit away from someone or a group of people, the less they can hear you, and the less you can hear them. At the same time, it does well to create that ‘conversation buzz’ of a room, and be able to approach a group engaged in conversation.

The rim around a person's Orbit will light up when they are talking, and there is a 'God Mic' function that enlarges a person's Orbit and has them clearly heard by all, no matter where the audience is in the environment. This allows a 'keynote speaker' feel and brings the focus to a person/s within the group.

Can you broadcast a video or share a screen in NOWHERE?

Yep! It will project into the sky like a hovering cinema screen for all to gather around and look up at. In NOWHERE this is referred to as a ‘Movie Screen’. It includes audio sharing which you can customize the audio range as ‘Near’, ‘Global’ or ‘Far’. Please note, only the host has access to this feature.

Can you alter the mobility of your Orbit?

Absolutely. There are some basic Mobility Settings that allow you to increase or decrease the speed in which you can move through the environment, as well as the speed in which you can turn around.

Some random notes to keep in mind.

• You can have multiple rooms / environments, however, currently there is a capacity of 25 people / Orbits per room
• Audio interactions are a priority in NOWHERE, and there is currently no text chat function
• Brand customization of an environment is limited

Some quick uses for the NOWHERE platform that we think will be awesome for virtual events!

• Breakout rooms and small group experiences (due to the current maxim of 25 people per environment)
• Presentations
• Watch parties
• Receptions or cocktail parties
• Concerts
• A Happily Hour
• The gamification-feel will be ideal for targeting a Millennial and/or Gen Z audience