Pocket Talks
Bringing live events to the whole world
A world-first tech, launched as part of BTF+ 25 (The Bristol Festival of Tech, Creativity & Culture), Pocket Talks combines live speakers, 3D volumetric video capture and cutting-edge augmented reality to enable people to experience live events from wherever they are in the world.
The challenge
We identified an inclusivity gap with traditional live events and conferences - you have to be there to get the full experience. There’s also a potentially significant carbon cost to attending in-person conferences - from travel, to hotels. We wanted to build a technology solution that could bring the live experience into peoples’ pockets without all the downsides.
Our response
We partnered with Condense Reality and MyWorld to build an augmented reality mobile experience that allowed users to experience live events from anywhere in the world. A cutting-edge 3D volumetric video rig captured the live performance, which was then streamed over the internet to an in-browser augmented reality app, complete with sound and the ability to move and scale the action.
The impact
The Pocket Talks pilot version debuted during the BTF+ broadcasting a keynote from the BBC’s Manon Dave. Hosted live at the Sheds in Bristol, Pocket Talks streamed across the world. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated that 3D volumetric video streamed to mobile browsers is viable - and now the challenge is to build on that success.
1.2m
Social impressions
Reaching audiences far beyond the physical event, demonstrating the global potential of immersive live experiences.
4.6 million
People reached
Generating widespread awareness and sparking conversation around a new way to experience live events.
6,300
Attendees
Removing the barriers of distance, cost and venue capacity, enabling thousands more people to experience the event.