# VR Collaboration # Introduction #### What is SimLab VR Collaboration? SimLab VR Collaboration is a feature available in SimLab VR Viewer that enables multiple users to participate in a VR Experience simultaneously. --- #### What Makes SimLab VR Collaboration Unique? SimLab VR Collaboration takes multi-user experiences to a whole new level through multiple features, some of which are : ##### Uses your own 3D Models.[![image-1652687025032.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/scaled-1680-/image-1652687025032.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/image-1652687025032.png) Unlike most collaboration solutions available in the market where you are limited to a number of environments specified by the software itself, SimLab VR Collaboration utilizes your own 3D Model as the environment of the VR Experience which ensures that the collaboration session is fully tailored for the subject at hand. ##### Interactive Collaboration.[![image-1652688002799.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/scaled-1680-/image-1652688002799.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/image-1652688002799.png) SimLab VR Collaboration Experiences are fully interactive where the participants can interact with objects through triggering and grabbing objects and elicit responses similar to single user VR Experiences. ##### Online Access[![Online.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/scaled-1680-/online.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/online.png) SimLab VR Collaboration is accessible online and therefore participants can join the same VR session around the globe and do not have to be in the same vicinity. ##### Cross-Platform![Crossplatform.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/crossplatform2.png) SimLab VR Collaboration can be accessed through a Desktop Computer in Desktop Mode or a VR headset in PC VR mode and is Cross-Platform, which eliminates the restriction of hardware used by the participants. # Starting a VR Collaboration Session (Host) ### The following steps will guide you to start VR collaboration sessions 1. Open the latest version of[ **SimLab VR Viewer**](https://www.simlab-soft.com/technologies/simlab-showroom.aspx) on Windows or macOS. [![Artboard 47 copy 2.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/2Kmartboard-47-copy-2.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/artboard-47-copy-2.png) 2. Sign in into your SimLab account. [![Artboard 47.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/6Biartboard-47.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/artboard-47.png)

If you don't have one, [**create a new one**](https://help.simlab-soft.com/link/88#bkmrk-page-title).

3. Choose the the first VR experience you want to start the collaboration session with. (you can change it later) [![Artboard 47 copy.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/artboard-47-copy.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/6Biartboard-47.png) 4. Click on invite to open a VR Collaboration Lobby. [![Artboard 47 copy 4.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/artboard-47-copy-4.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/artboard-47-copy-3.png) 5. Invite your participants: **Method A.** Invitation Link: Create an invitation link and send it to others, they will access the session by just opening the link. [![Artboard 47 copy 5.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/scaled-1680-/JyJartboard-47-copy-5.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/JyJartboard-47-copy-5.png) this method is supported on windows, macOS, android and iOS. **Method B.** Invite contacts and groups: You can add contacts on SimLab VR Viewer for easy sharing and VR Collaboration invitations. While in the lobby you can add participants from your contacts and group of contacts. [![Artboard 47 copy 6.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/C2wartboard-47-copy-6.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/artboard-47-copy-6.png) 6. Wait for people to join and get ready, Status of people will be shown beside them as described in the following image, then hit the **Start Button** [![Artboard 47 copy 7.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/scaled-1680-/artboard-47-copy-7.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/artboard-47-copy-7.png) --- ### Useful Tips #### Changing the VR Experience You can change the VR experience while in the lobby, select a new VR experience then click on the **Change VR Experience icon** at the top right corner of the collaboration VR Experience Thumbnail. [![Artboard 47 copy 9.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/scaled-1680-/artboard-47-copy-9.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/artboard-47-copy-9.png) ##### #### VR Collaboration Session Controls When accessing the VR menu as a Host during a VR Collaboration Session, you will find multiple options that can be helpful at the bottom right corner of the screen in Desktop Mode, or near the VR Menu in VR mode. [![Asset 20.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/scaled-1680-/asset-20.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2023-01/asset-20.png) **Participants Interactions** : Enables the participants interactions through triggering and grabbing or disabling them. **Mute Participants** : Mutes all Participants and deny them the ability to use voice chat. **Mute Microphone** : Mutes your own Microphone but other participants can still use voice chat. **Mute Speaker** : Mutes your own speaker but other participants can still use voice chat. # Joining a VR Collaboration Session (Participants) #### Tutorial Video of Joining a Collaboration Session #### #### SimLab VR Viewer To join a collaboration session you need to have SimLab VR Viewer installed, SimLab VR VIewer is a free to use application that enables you to view and Run VR Experiences created in SimLab Composer and SimLab VR Studio. If you do not have SimLab VR Viewer installed, [click here](https://simlab-soft.com/technologies/simlab-showroom.aspx) to download and then install it. After installing SimLab VR Viewer login to your SimLab account or sign up if you do not have an existing account, [click here](https://help.simlab-soft.com/books/simlab-vr-viewer-for-creators/page/signing-up) to learn more about logging in to SimLab VR Viewer. #### Joining the Collaboration session [![Collaborationinvitation.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/scaled-1680-/collaborationinvitation.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/collaborationinvitation.png) As a participant once the host invites you to a VR Collaboration session you will receive an email and a notification inside SimLab VR Studio. Once you click join the VR Collaboration Lobby interface will appear. [![LobbyDiagram_participant2.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/scaled-1680-/lobbydiagram-participant2.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/lobbydiagram-participant2.png) in the Collaboration Lobby make sure you toggle on your preferred viewing mode (Desktop Mode or VR Mode) and wait for the host to start the VR Collaboration Session. ##### Microphone and speakers Control In the lobby you can change the device to use for both the microphone and speaker by clicking the arrow next to each icon and choosing a device. You can also mute and unmute your microphone and your speaker by clicking on them. During the VR Collaboration session you can also mute and unmute your microphone and speaker by accessing the VR menu and toggling their Icons in the bottom right corner in Desktop Mode or near the VR menu in VR Mode. [![micSpeaker_participant.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/scaled-1680-/micspeaker-participant.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/micspeaker-participant.png) To access the VR menu press the middle mouse (mouse wheel) in Desktop Mode, or press the Menu button on the Controller in VR Mode. # Plan and Subscription Starting a VR Collaboration Session in SimLab VR Studio requires you to have an Active Collaboration license, as for participant (Invitees), they **do not** require an active Collaboration license to join a VR Collaboration session. #### Acquiring a VR Collaboration License To add a Collaboration license to your SimLab account you can [Click here](https://simlab-soft.com/3d-products/simlab-vr-collaboration.aspx) to access the VR Collaboration webpage, then click "Soft Launch" to go to the pricing section of the page, then click the plan that suits you most. [![Webpage.jpg](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/scaled-1680-/webpage.jpg)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/webpage.jpg) SimLab VR Collaboration webpage Note : When attempting to start a VR Collaboration session while not having an active collaboration license, you will get a message informing you that you do not have an active license, and from that message you can click **"Learn More"** to go to the VR Collaboration page where you can acquire a Collaboration license. [![Error_collaboration.jpg](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/scaled-1680-/error-collaboration.jpg)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/error-collaboration.jpg) VR Collaboration missing license message After purchasing a license, an email will be sent to you containing a VR Collaboration **Activation Key** which you can add to your SimLab Account through Simlab VR Viewe. #### Adding a VR Collaboration Key to your Account [![plananduser2.jpg](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/scaled-1680-/plananduser2.jpg)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/plananduser2.jpg) While Logged in to your SimLab Account in SimLab VR Viewer, you will find next to your avatar meters for storage capacity and file count, **click one of those 2 Icons** to display your SimLab Cloud Sharing plan details. [![addkeys1.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/scaled-1680-/addkeys1.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/addkeys1.png) In the SimLab Cloud Sharing Dialog, click on **Add Keys.** [![addkeys2.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/scaled-1680-/addkeys2.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/addkeys2.png) Enter the Key or the multiple Keys you have purchased in the fields then Click **"Add Keys"**. [![addkeys3.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/scaled-1680-/addkeys3.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/addkeys3.png) Once you Click Add Keys, the Plan will be upgraded right away and you will get a green indicator next to the added key denoting the success of the keys addition to your plan. [ ](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-06/addkeys3.png) # Invitation through link #### An alternative method for inviting users to a VR Collaboration Session. Tutorial video of inviting and joining a collaboration session through a link #### Adding the VR Experience to SimLab VR Viewer Similar to the previous method of inviting users, you need to first add the VR experience to SimLab VR Viewer while logged in to your SimLab account. To create a VR Experience from SimLab VR Studio, go to the **VR Viewer Menu** and select **"Export VR Package".** **[![AddModel.jpg](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-01/scaled-1680-/addmodel.jpg)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-01/addmodel.jpg)** To Add the Exported VR Package to SimLab VR Viewer, click on **"Add Model"** in SimLab VR Viewer and select the VR package you just exported. If you want to learn more about adding VR packages to SimLab VR Viewer, **[click here](https://help.simlab-soft.com/books/simlab-vr-viewer-for-creators/page/adding-and-uploading-vr-experiences).** --- ### Starting a Collaboration Session ##### Specifying the VR Experience To Start a Collaboration Session in SimLab VR Viewer, select the VR Experience you want to use for the collaboration session then from the **Selected Item** panel to the right, click on the **Collaboration Icon**. [![Start_collab.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/scaled-1680-/start-collab.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/start-collab.png) ##### ![Contacts_List.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/contacts-list-unchecked.png) Once you have clicked the Collaboration Icon, the contacts selection list will appear where you can **select the contacts or groups of contacts that you want to be part of the collaboration session**, select the contacts and click **"OK"** to go to the collaboration Lobby, or you can skip this step to invite users solely through a link by clicking "OK" and not selecting any contacts. ##### Using an invitation Link While in the VR Collaboration Lobby, click on the **"Link Invitation"** Icon. [![Link_invitation.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/scaled-1680-/link-invitation.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/link-invitation.png) From the VR Collaboration invite link dialogue, click the **Copy Button** to Copy the provided link and distribute it to the participants that you want to join the session. [![CopyLink.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/scaled-1680-/copylink.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/copylink.png) --- #### Joining a VR Collaboration session through a link Once the invitees click on the link you sent them, a webpage will open where they can launch SimLab VR Viewer and join the Collaboration session, or download SimLab Viewer viewer and install it in case they do not have it already. [![JoinSessionLink.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/scaled-1680-/joinsessionlink.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/joinsessionlink.png) Once the user clicks Launch SimLab VR Viewer, SimLab VR Viewer will start and the user will get the following Dialog : [![Gues_signin1.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/scaled-1680-/gues-signin1.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/gues-signin1.png) the invitation dialog will state the name of the host that has sent the invitation as well as two options to proceed. If the invitee already has a SimLab Account, then he can click **"Sign in"** to enter his SimLab account credentials and join through his account. In case the invitee does not have an existing SimLab Account he can click **Continue as a guest**. [![Gues_signin2.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/scaled-1680-/gues-signin2.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/gues-signin2.png) To continue as a guest the invitee has to enter a **Username** for the host to recognize him, as well as an **email address**. [![Joined1.png](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/scaled-1680-/joined1.png)](https://help.simlab-soft.com/uploads/images/gallery/2022-08/joined1.png) Once all the participants have joined the VR collaboration lobby and has green indicators next to their names, the Host can start the VR Collaboration Experience.