Last week at the SHAPE MENA event, members of the Global Shapers community did more than just explore XR (extended reality technology) —they immediately started brainstorming how to apply it in their own fields. What stood out to me was how quickly they moved beyond the technology itself and focused on what would make it more useful for their work. Since resilience was the theme of the event, the Village became a way to see Shapers’ adaptability in action. They weren’t just interested in XR as a compelling experience —they saw it as a space to share projects, exchange ideas, and collaborate across hubs in a more immersive way.
One moment that really stuck with me was when we explored the impact of climate change on air travel. Many Shapers had just flown to Saudi Arabia for the event, so this felt particularly relatable for them. Some even shared that they had never made the connection between air travel and climate impact before. Seeing it in XR made it real. It also sparked discussions on how this technology could help communities engage with complex challenges in a more tangible way.
Shapers also had clear ideas on how to improve collaboration through the Village, including:
- A global hub visualization so Shapers could better understand and connect with each other.
- Tools to create and share content that reflect the work happening across the network.
- Spaces for training and mentorship to help skills-building happen more organically.
One of the biggest takeaways for me? Access is key.
Shapers emphasized that for XR to be truly useful, it needs to be available on laptops and mobile devices—so no one is excluded because of hardware limitations.
Looking ahead, I can see real potential for the Village beyond SHAPE events. Imagine a future where young leaders can engage with stakeholders across the
World Economic Forum’s ecosystem – business, civil society, and government – in an interactive, immersive way.
What began as an introduction to XR at SHAPE MENA quickly became something more—a real conversation about how young people can shape the future of collaboration itself.
Quelle:
Foto: A Shaper explores an immersive experience using XR technology inside the Global Collaboration Village. Image credit: Adam Gavin/WEF
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-xr-can-unlock-power-collaboration-young-mfmke/
