Johanna Pirker

We are all part of the game

During the pandemic, people held weddings and memorials inside video games. This reveals a powerful truth about the future of digital connection.

We are all part of the game
#1about 2 minutes

How the pandemic accelerated the growth of gaming

The gaming industry saw a massive revenue and engagement increase during lockdowns as people sought new forms of entertainment and connection.

#2about 5 minutes

Achieving social presence in virtual game worlds

Unlike impersonal video calls, social games like Animal Crossing and World of Warcraft create a powerful sense of shared presence for virtual events like weddings and memorials.

#3about 3 minutes

How game development drives broader technology innovation

The competitive need for performance in gaming has historically pushed advancements in GPUs and algorithms, while data shows games build lasting social connections.

#4about 5 minutes

The metaverse and the resurgence of virtual worlds

The concept of the metaverse is gaining traction because widespread powerful hardware and internet access can now support the vision of interconnected virtual worlds like Second Life.

#5about 4 minutes

Pandemic-driven tech adoption beyond the games industry

Lockdowns forced rapid innovation and adoption in sectors like telehealth, contactless payments, remote work infrastructure, and e-learning.

#6about 5 minutes

Using Twitch to create interactive online lectures

Moving university lectures to Twitch instead of traditional platforms created a highly interactive and open learning environment that attracted a larger audience.

#7about 1 minute

Adopting game-like tools for remote collaboration

The future of remote work can be enhanced by creatively using game-like platforms such as Gather Town and Among Us for virtual collaboration and team building.

#8about 4 minutes

Q&A on gaming accessibility and virtual meeting immersion

The discussion covers making games accessible for older users through UI/UX design and why immersion, not photorealism, is key for the future of virtual meetings.

Related jobs
Jobs that call for the skills explored in this talk.

Machine Learning Engineer

Picnic Technologies B.V.

Picnic Technologies B.V.
Amsterdam, Netherlands

Intermediate
Senior
Python
Structured Query Language (SQL)
+1

Matching moments

Increasing the value of talk recordings post-event
04:57 MIN

Increasing the value of talk recordings post-event

Cat Herding with Lions and Tigers - Christian Heilmann

Organizing a developer conference for 15,000 attendees
01:32 MIN

Organizing a developer conference for 15,000 attendees

Cat Herding with Lions and Tigers - Christian Heilmann

Rapid-fire thoughts on the future of work
02:44 MIN

Rapid-fire thoughts on the future of work

What 2025 Taught Us: A Year-End Special with Hung Lee

The future of recruiting beyond talent acquisition
03:15 MIN

The future of recruiting beyond talent acquisition

What 2025 Taught Us: A Year-End Special with Hung Lee

Moving beyond headcount to solve business problems
04:27 MIN

Moving beyond headcount to solve business problems

What 2025 Taught Us: A Year-End Special with Hung Lee

Breaking down silos between HR, tech, and business
03:39 MIN

Breaking down silos between HR, tech, and business

What 2025 Taught Us: A Year-End Special with Hung Lee

Why HR struggles with technology implementation and adoption
04:22 MIN

Why HR struggles with technology implementation and adoption

What 2025 Taught Us: A Year-End Special with Hung Lee

Why corporate AI adoption lags behind the hype
03:28 MIN

Why corporate AI adoption lags behind the hype

What 2025 Taught Us: A Year-End Special with Hung Lee

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