LG Uplus-style metabus unveiled... Preemptive strategy for office work…
언론사(미디어) 매일경제
글쓴이 김우현
보도일 2022-05-17
2,646회
작성일 22-05-18 10:18
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On the 17th, at the LG U+ office building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, Kim Min Gu, head of LG U+ Service Incubation Lab, is giving a presentation. [Reporter Kim Woo Hyun]
Lee Sang-yeop, chief technology officer(CTO) of LG U+, said at a briefing held at the LG U+ office building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul that day, "Innovation occurs when the target customer is clear," and "I thought we should introduce a metaverse service focused on specialized customers."
Kim Min Gu, head of LG U+ Service Incubation Lab, also said, "In Metaverse, it is important to provide users with an interactive experience through activities," and We have developed a strategy to focus on service planning that can give a proper experience to target customers and to secure related technologies.”
◆ Office Workers and Children first, then Expand and Integrate Service
LG U+ selects office workers and children as its first target customers, and introduces 'Virtual Office' and 'Kids Zoo' services.
The virtual office is a service specialized for the home work environment, and office workers enter the virtual office and provide the same experience as real work, such as morning greetings, small talk, personal interviews, video conferences, and business collaboration.
To this end, LG U+ plans to provide an integrated communication solution that supports voice conversations, chatting, and video conferences, lip sync technology to naturally create avatar conversations, and an AI meeting minutes function that writes meeting minutes in real time.
Lab Chief Kim said, “Office workers in the hybrid work era do not physically stay in the same space, but interaction for collaboration is still important,” and "To increase the sense of belonging to the metaverse for work productivity and to provide the value of working together."
As a result of conducting a preliminary test on 70 LG U+ employees, the response was good. An employee who participated in the test evaluated, "Expressing emotions with avatars has the advantage that even introverts express themselves more than usual."
![LG유플러스의 메타버스 중 가상오피스 화면. 특정 영역을 클릭하면 주변 사람들과 자동으로 화상채팅을 할 수 있다. [사진 출처 = LG유플러스]](https://file.mk.co.kr/meet/neds/2022/05/image_readmed_2022_434875_16527679165045108.jpg)
A virtual office screen in LG U+'s Metaverse. If you click on a specific area, you can automatically video chat with people around you. [Photo source = LG U+]
A virtual office screen in LG U+'s Metaverse. If you click on a specific area, you can automatically video chat with people around you. [Photo source = LG U+]
Lab Chief Kim also shared his experiences, saying, “Employees on maternity leave were able to communicate naturally without calling or messengers because they were in a virtual office.”
The virtual office service is scheduled to be officially launched next year after providing the service to employees and some customers first.
Lab Chief Kim said, “As all of our employees do not use high-end computers, the optimization function is important for virtual offices,” and "Since November of last year, we have been developing related technologies in partnership with Unity, the world's largest real-time 3D content developing company."
The virtual office service is scheduled to be officially launched next year after providing the service to employees and some customers first.
Lab Chief Kim said, “As all of our employees do not use high-end computers, the optimization function is important for virtual offices,” and "Since November of last year, we have been developing related technologies in partnership with Unity, the world's largest real-time 3D content developing company."
Kids Zoo is a virtual zoo dedicated to children built using gamification, communication, artificial intelligence (AI), simultaneous access technology, and 3D technology.
Based on the fact that most children prefer experiential learning, a virtual zoo with 30 types of wild animals and 20 types of dinosaurs is built, and contents such as viewing, learning, and solving quize are provided.
Children can communicate with other users and AI NPCs only with voice without any manipulation, and learn related information through quizzes and rewards. One parent who experienced Kids Zoo said, “It was good because it was safe content that was more conducive to learning than games like Roblox.”
CTO Lee said, "We are considering a metaverse activity suitable for people who like baseball, golf, and idols other than office workers and children," and "we are also considering connecting each worldview later."
◆ Issuance of NFT character 'Mooneo'... The first telecom company to enter the community market
Meanwhile, LG Uplus plans to issue NFTs of its own character 'Mooneo' and enter the NFT community market as the only domestic telecommunications company.
On the 25th, 200 NFTs will be issued on a dedicated website, and 50 NFTs have been sold out in 9 minutes in advance reservations, proving their popularity. Proceeds from NFT sales will be donated to charity, and a second NFT will be issued in the second half of this year.
Jang Joon Young, manager of LG U+'s IMC business, said, "In addition to the value of owning NFTs, we are trying to put a good influence on them," and "It is expected to give trust to the market by combining the charm of the character itself and community participation."
Meanwhile, among the three domestic telecommunications companies, SK Telecom first entered the metabus market through 'ifland' last year. Although LG U+ is a latecomer, he expressed his aspirations to make it right even if it is late.
CTO Lee said, “If you enter the actual open metabus service, there are not many users who are accessing it,” and "It is important to make well and approach it by creating a service that satisfies the customer experience."
Lab Chief Kim said, "The metaverse defined by LG Uplus is 'Expansion of living space',” and "Metaverse can also be combined with various revenue models, such as collaboration with brands, creation of a creative ecosystem that decorates virtual spaces, and sales of scarce products through NFT."
[Reporter Kim Woo Hyun, Maekyung.com]
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