Key Takeaways
- Core technology: H2L's FirstVR sensor detects micro-movements in calf muscles and translates them into two indices, "Genkido" and "Relax-do," displayed on the user's avatar.
- Partnership: Service developed by H2L in collaboration with NOMURA Co., Ltd., launched on June 29, 2023 under the name BodySharing® for Business.
- Deployment: Freemium model accessible via browser, registration in 3 minutes, team dashboard to monitor group vitality and relaxation levels.
H2L and NOMURA Co., Ltd. have introduced BodySharing® for Business, a virtual office platform that conveys employees' physical state through biometric indicators visible on avatars. The system aims to close the communication gap created by remote work, replacing lost non-verbal cues with muscle data measured in real time.
The Wearable Sensor at the Core of the System
The FirstVR device, described by H2L as the world's first muscle-displacement sensor, is worn on the calf and uses active optical sensing to capture micro-movements. The collected data is sent to the cloud, where a machine learning model processes it to generate two parameters: "Genkido," which measures the degree of physical fatigue, and "Relax-do," which indicates the level of psychological tension.
From Biometric Data to Avatar
Both indicators sync in real time with the appearance of the user's avatar in the metaverse environment. A colleague with high Genkido and Relax-do levels appears with a brighter avatar, signaling readiness for complex tasks. A dull avatar indicates a state of fatigue, suggesting the interaction should be postponed. H2L and NOMURA state that this mechanism can triple the efficiency of internal team communication.
Additional Features and Management Tools
Beyond sensory sharing, the platform integrates voice calls, text chat, and screen sharing. A team-level dashboard is included, showing the average and standard deviation of vitality and relaxation values across the entire group, which managers can use to calibrate task assignments and team composition.
Service Structure
BodySharing® for Business follows a Freemium model: the FREE version covers up to 50 users with a trial period running through the end of the month following registration; the PRO version, with no time limit, supports up to 100 users. The FirstVR sensor is distributed through Amazon, while access to the service itself is browser-based, with a registration process completed in three minutes. H2L operates almost entirely on remote work and uses its own product internally.
The Broader Technological Context
BodySharing® for Business represents a specific application of the BodySharing® technology developed by H2L, focused on sharing bodily sensations — proprioception, weight perception, resistance — between users, virtual characters, and robots. Founder Emi Tamaki has already brought devices such as PossessedHand®, named by Time among the 50 inventions that will change the future, and UnlimitedHand® for gesture and sensation input/output, into production. FirstVR® fits into this trajectory as a tool dedicated to sensory input in the workplace.
