“In the coming days, Artificial Intelligence will become more of a facilitator towards an approach-based mode of learning” – By, Mr. Ranganath Jagannath, Director, Agora

In the ongoing global pandemic, applications that have been leveraging live interactions are growing significantly as they keep people socially connected along with meeting business needs. From live streaming, to broadcasting, to video chat and beyond, real-time engagement technology is bringing new services and communication capabilities to the masses in never seen before ways. In fact, it has reached incredible prevalence in all industries as consumers demand the ability to connect with others instead of sitting idly before a screen.

To have a truly engaging experience requires shared context. The ability to share the same space, hear the same sounds, see the same sights helps build bonds. Now that consumers are comfortable using video, they increasingly crave this shared context and expect to have video engagement directly inside the apps they are already using.

Today, social media influencers post on-demand video content and hold live events that can reach millions. Globally, influencers livestream their lives for hours every day. Worldwide, we are seeing an increase in demand for audience-to-host, host-to-host, and co-watching experiences provided by companies such as Scener. We believe this is just the beginning of a coming transformation in the entertainment industry.

Social networking app MeetMe makes dating fun by adding live video streaming, and a new generation of workforce collaboration tools like Pragli and Airmeet are facilitating creative brainstorming and networking opportunities that were previously available only in person.

RTE allows everyone to interact with anyone, in any app, anytime and anywhere – whether you’re in your car, in the kitchen or in a park, you should be able to use any device to engage with your favourite apps. This drive towards convenient access to digital content is already apparent in the popularity of voice-activated home systems and smart appliances. As demand for richer engagement increases, we are seeing live video embedded in everything from TVs and smartwatches to self-driving robots and refrigerators. We are fast approaching a world where the interactivity you crave will be seamlessly available on any screen as you move through your day. 

What is the power of live engagement for the education sector?

Real-time engagement platforms have the capability to ease the transition to an online education system in a seamless manner. For example, Applejax, an online tutoring platform blends the aspect of conventional day-to-day social human interactions through newer and engaging ways of delivering education continuity. This is made possible with an integrated approach that incorporates live video, a virtual whiteboard, screen share and full-length recordings backed by multilayer security for data protection.

During the lockdown, India’s leading online higher education provider, upGrad introduced the new upGrad Live platform, built to replicate a real-time classroom learning experience for upGrad learners by providing greater interactivity, real-time doubt resolution, in-class concept check and session analytics. These are examples of how education service providers are already using the power of real-time platforms to revamp and re-strategize their learning modules.

VirBELA, an immersive platform that offers virtual campuses for offices and educational institutions, is redefining the future of business, events, and education with RTE capabilities. Using 3D technology, VirBELA creates dynamic virtual campuses that allow groups of people to engage in real-time through avatars. 

How a technology like AI helps in the education sector?

Remote learning has already defined the future of education in a post covid world. Online educational platforms are using the power of live engagement to address the difficulties of accessing education while offering a seamless experience of having all necessary features integrated into the product. The interactive, multi-tab whiteboard, inbuilt lesson library, and simple user interface for teachers and students have helped students to continue with their studies.

In the coming days, Artificial Intelligence will become more of a facilitator towards an approach-based mode of learning. Educational institutions and service providers are leveraging AI to build tutoring tools and personalized learning processes allowing teachers and mentors to provide personalized feedback to individual students including real time assistance. As a computer-based software, AI will play a pivotal role in international collaboration among various schools and colleges. AI will help connect different classrooms all over the world resulting in enhanced knowledge sharing and collaboration among countries.

What is the technology behind powering health services in a new normal scenario?

The pandemic has resulted in a paradigm shift for the healthcare industry. Remote collaboration between patients and healthcare service providers is the new normal. Telehealth technology is playing a crucial role for healthcare professionals around the globe. Patients can now speak with their doctors directly in a secure environment through real time engagement tools.

With the help of additional technology, like mobile devices that monitor heart rate and applications that track a patient’s diet, doctors can aid patients from miles away.  Perhaps the biggest benefit of a virtual doctor’s appointment is that it doesn’t require a physical doctor chamber. Allowing healthcare providers to initiate video sessions with other clinicians to discuss care plans, or with patients as part of follow-up care will be a game changer in the field of healthcare diagnostics.

Live video and voice bring people together without the constraints of a physical location. Hundreds or even thousands of individuals can virtually gather together to share and even create their own communities.

Some of the examples of how real time engagement technology is being leveraged in health services are:

• Zubia is a health and wellness live streaming community. Members can choose to host their own broadcasts on everything from diet and nutrition to medicine and healthcare. While plenty of health professionals host their own broadcasts, anyone can join the community, connect with others, and share valuable information.

• MixPose, a streaming platform for yoga instructors and fitness professionals, used Agora’s API to build live streaming into its platform for yoga instructors leading real-time classes, allowing instructors and viewers to capture the experience of a guided session. Agora’s video SDK pairs with MixPose’s AI functions to evaluate the yoga poses of participants, helping to offer guidance and track progress.

• Talkspace, a mobile therapy provider, further reduces physical barriers to care with around-the-clock access to licensed therapists. With live streaming, patients and therapists can sit down for engaging sessions that are on par with in-person therapy.  

How does the adoption of new technologies like AI, IoT, VR by businesses enhance consumer experience?

A recent PwC research highlighted that 59% of global customers surveyed felt companies had lost touch with the human element of customer experience while 75% of customers were interested in interacting with a human versus an automated machine. Enterprises have been investing in technology to redefine customer experience for quite some time. Fuelled by the pandemic, we will see an increase in the adoption of technology by businesses to enhance customer experience.

With the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT), real-time communications has taken a giant step forward. Virtually anything can be an IoT device, from a lightbulb to a child’s toy, as long as it is connected to the Internet. When these physical devices are connected to other devices, they contribute to a new kind of communication, one no longer reliant solely on laptops, tablets or even smartphones. Live streaming video has become a popular feature on many platforms. People around the world can connect with family, friends, and co-workers via real-time voice and video, no matter their location.

Today everyone is socially connected by physically distant. In a scenario like this AR and VR technologies will provide the perfect roadmap for businesses to connect with their target audience like never before. As handheld devices become smarter with the introduction of apps and other robust features, the need for camera-based apps powered with Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technology shines improving video experiences between people. Face filters, virtual backgrounds, avatars, VR testing booths across retail outlets are some of the examples in which brands can integrate AR/VR experiences into products.

From the Snapchat-inspired filters across many social media apps to the voice changing effects that bring mobile games to life, AI is powering many of the top and emerging platforms and applications. However, interactive features aren’t limited to social media and gaming. Enterprises across a variety of industries can use AI-powered engagement features to create more interactive live streaming experiences, whether they are communicating with their customers or with their internal teams.