For my Product School final project, I spent some time exploring immersive experiences at present and preparations for future interaction. I researched network requirements for immersive experiences like Virtual Reality (VR) and learnt that we require high speeds, which many people do not have access to. How might we design virtual and immersive experiences that allow everyone to participate effectively? I propose a feature in Mozilla Hubs where users are offered bandwidth optimised options.

1. You have not left the Room
(Hubs Connect)
Sarah Kiden
Product School Final Project
July 2022

2. Pop Quiz
How many of you have dropped
off a virtual conference call
due to poor connectivity?
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3. Meet Amani
3
● 24 years old
● Recent computer science graduate
● Open source contributor
● Enjoys developing applications
and virtual social gatherings with
friends
● Lives in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

4. Pain Points
“I live outside the city so
my Internet connection
is limited.”
4

5. “With my
connection, I
cannot easily
participate in
immersive virtual
events like in
Mozilla Hubs .”
“I wish it was
possible for me to
participate using a
bandwidth
optimised option.”
5

6. Latency is the most important quality
parameter of VR/AR applications.
Mangiante et al. (2017)
6

7. 46% of UK homes had
a gigabit-broadband
connection in
September 2021.
Source: Ofcom (Telecoms Regulator)
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Network Requirements
Minimum of 1Gbps (1000
Mbps) for both upstream and
downstream traffic
(for full interactive metaverse
experience).
Source: Baker (2022), IceConnect

8. How might we design
virtual and immersive
experiences that allow
everyone to participate
effectively?
8

9. Introducing
“You have not left the Room”
(aka Hubs Connect)
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10. ● Launched 2018
● Open Source
● Virtual collaboration platform
● Private 3D virtual spaces
● Both 2D and 3D experiences
● Works on desktop, mobile and VR
platforms
● No downloads or VR headsets required
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Case Study

11. What did I do?
● Literature review
● Created account, avatar and
virtual room in Mozilla Hubs
● Invited 2 friends to participate
● Interviewed Amani
(pseudonym)
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12. 12
New option: Test
connection
Proposal
Proposed
Current

13. 13
Bandwidth Optimised
Experience (drop to 2D)
Connection
Monitor
Switch back to
3D Virtual Space
2D-3D-VR Toggle
Remove objects,
elements and 3D
models

14. 14
Proposed
Current
New option
to test
connectivity
Bandwidth Optimised
Experience (drop to 2D)
In-app

15. Success Metrics
● Increased participation in low-resource participants
● Reduced complaints/tickets on ‘dropped calls’ (target 30%)
North Star Metric:
Strive for inclusivity by giving all users a good virtual experience regardless of their
connection speed.
15

16. Additional Study
Limitation:
Limited chat and interactivity for
telephone dial-in.
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Features
● Telephone dial-in option
● Averages 300 million
daily active users in 2022
● Zoom Immersive

17. Hubs Connect
● Access to chat options
● Full interactivity
● Toggle between 2D, 3D & VR (dependant on
connection speeds)
● Feature can be added to existing immersive
experiences like Mozilla Hubs and other
virtual meeting platforms
17

18. 18
Product Roadmap
Connection Monitor
● Connectivity testing
feature added when
joining room
● Monitor
connects/disconnects
Hubs Connect
● In-app connectivity
testing
● Automatic switching
Interaction
Toggle 2D, 3D & VR
Short-term
(6 months)
Long-term
(24 months)

19. ● Creators/Developers
● Iterate
● In-app release (A/B)
● Press release + Social Media
channels
● Test at events like Mozilla
Festival (MozFest)
● Release to public
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GTM Plan

20. “That’s the kind of
experience I was hoping
for!”
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21. Thank you!
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