Nomura Kogei and H2L Jointly Develop “BodySharing® for Business,” a Metaverse Office That Enables Shared Sensory Experiences, and Officially Launch It

Nomura Kogei Co., Ltd. (hereinafter “Nomura Kogei”) and H2L, Inc. (hereinafter “H2L”) officially launched “BodySharing® for Business,” a metaverse office designed to address the challenges of remote work by enabling sensory sharing through BodySharing® technology*1, on Thursday, June 29, 2023.

Introduction videos: https://youtu.be/WrFTVfS5k1Q

“BodySharing® for Business” uses BodySharing® technology to visualize the status of coworkers—which can be difficult to gauge compared to a physical office environment. It reflects the user’s status in real time through an avatar, displaying “energy levels” and “relaxation levels.” “Energy Level” indicates the degree of physical fatigue, while “Relaxation Level” indicates the presence or absence of tension—both are metrics*2 displayed within the metaverse. This allows managers to approach colleagues for discussions when they appear relaxed, or to check in on colleagues when their energy levels are low. “BodySharing® for Business” facilitates office communication by sharing and analyzing user states.
Following feedback from beta testers (who began using the service in October 2022), we have made the service available via web browser. This eliminates the barriers to metaverse adoption often associated with infrastructure requirements (such as PC specifications and internet speeds), allowing users to start using the service immediately after registering an account.

*1 BodySharing® technology: A technology that enables the sharing of various physical sensations between a user and the bodies of characters, robots, or other people, thereby facilitating shared experiences. The term “bodily sensations” here refers not only to vision and hearing but also to proprioceptive sensations such as positional awareness, weight perception, and resistance perception.
*2 The display of “Energy Level” and “Relaxation Level” can be customized at the user’s discretion.

BodySharing® for Business Service Overview
Official Name: BodySharing® for Business
Official Website: https://business.bodysharing.jp/
Service Launch: Thursday, June 29, 2023, 8:00 AM

Feature Details
Voice Calls ◎
Constant communication is possible when entering the same room in the metaverse space※3
Chat & Screen Sharing ◎
Group chat within the metaverse and screen sharing with others in the same room
Body data sharing*4 ◎
World’s first
Setup and performance ◎
Browser-based setup with smooth, constant connectivity
Registration process ◎
Complete metaverse office registration and setup in 3 minutes
*3 Mute function is also available.
*4 Requires the FirstVR muscle displacement sensor device. FirstVR is available for purchase on Amazon (Delivery as early as the next day after ordering). Click here to purchase on Amazon.

By wearing FirstVR※5—H2L’s proprietary, world-first muscle displacement sensor device—on the calf, the system estimates the user’s “vitality” and “relaxation level” based on muscle displacement data. It automatically reflects both mental and physical sensations onto the avatar within the Metaverse Office. By sharing these sensations through avatars, we anticipate improvements in communication, self-care, and work efficiency.

※5 FirstVR: Equipped with an optical muscle displacement sensor (Optical Active Sensing) to detect muscle movement.

• Features of BodySharing® for Business

In traditional office settings, we used to gauge others’ energy levels and relaxation by observing their facial expressions and body language, and then communicate with them accordingly. This is difficult to do in remote work scenarios where we cannot see each other’s faces. With “BodySharing® for Business,” we use machine learning to estimate these energy and relaxation levels based on muscle displacement data and trends obtained from FirstVR, and by visualizing them, we create a state where “you find yourself naturally connecting with others.”
For example, by observing the energy and relaxation levels reflected in avatars—such as “Person A is at maximum energy, so let’s have them continue working as is” or “Person B seems low on energy, so I’ll check in with them”—you can communicate just as you would when observing facial expressions and gestures in person.
Additionally, the administrator dashboard provides an at-a-glance view of energy and relaxation levels over a specified period. Leveraging this data can help balance workloads and improve team productivity.

*Note: FirstVR is required to automatically reflect user status, but even without FirstVR, you can use screen sharing, voice calls, and chat features.

• User Voices

Seeing my colleagues’ relaxation levels provides just the right amount of motivation.
I think visualizing relaxation and energy levels is a unique and very interesting concept.
Changes in relaxation levels make the avatars—and the people behind them—feel more alive.
The UI looks simple but has a playful touch; the login sequence is straightforward, and I feel it’s fully practical.
Seeing my estimated energy level hit MAX made me happy and boosted my work motivation.
It’s great that it’s easy to put on and still captures accurate data.
It features interactive elements and playful functions reminiscent of soccer games, making communication with colleagues even more enjoyable

• Pricing Plans

FREE Plan:
Maximum of 50 registered users
Available until the end of the month following the month of the office’s initial registration

PRO Plan:
900 yen/month per user (excluding tax)
Maximum of 100 registered users
No time limit

Company Profile

• About NOMLABhttps://www.nomlab.jp/

An innovation laboratory within the Nomura Kogei Group that develops new domains of production and services to expand the possibilities of spatial experiences under the theme of “Digital Innovation × Space Creation.” By fusing digital technology with physical spaces, we handle both in-house prototypes and client projects, serving as a specialized organization dedicated to advancing the Group’s digital communication initiatives.
Major Projects: Yamanashi Prefectural Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center – “Mt. Fuji World Heritage VR,” “Fuji Guide”
Expo 2020 Dubai Japan Pavilion VIP Lounge Installation – “MOMENT”
Next-generation remote conferencing system “Tsunagaru Bistro” (tentative name), developed in collaboration with NTT Docomo, etc.

• About Nomura Kogei Co., Ltd. https://www.nomurakougei.co.jp/

Nomura Kogei is a comprehensive spatial production company that handles everything from planning, design, and construction to operation and management for commercial facilities, hotels, corporate PR facilities, workplaces, expositions, and museums. Across the group, we operate through 9 domestic and 8 overseas locations, as well as 6 group companies in Japan and abroad. Leveraging the comprehensive capabilities we have cultivated since 1892 (Meiji 25), we deliver “joy and inspiration” to people by providing spatial value that fuses the physical and virtual worlds. In recent years, to realize a sustainable society, we have been promoting “Social Good Activities” that create a positive impact through our business operations.

List of Press Releases from Nomura Kogei Co., Ltd.
https://digitalpr.jp/c/1101

• About H2L, Inc. https://h2l.jp

Established in July 2012. With the goal of sharing experiences, the company conducts research and development, as well as business development, for BodySharing®, a next-generation sensory sharing technology that follows audio-visual technology. Its main products include PossessedHand®, an invention selected by TIME magazine as one of the “50 Inventions That Will Change the Future in 2011”; UnlimitedHand®, which enables gesture and proprioceptive input/output to computers; and FirstVR®, which allows for easy gesture and proprioceptive input via a smartphone. H2L’s strengths lie in technology that detects hand movements and proprioception from muscle bulges, and technology that transmits proprioception by applying multi-electrode electrical stimulation to the arm. By combining these technologies with avatar synthesis and teleoperated robots, we are working to realize BodySharing®.
In 2020, the company was selected as a “Venture Building a Post-COVID Society” by the Japan Venture Capital Association.

List of H2L Inc. Press Releases
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/searchrlp/company_id/6831

Contact Information
H2L Inc. Public Relations and Sales Department
Email: info@h2l.jp