There may soon be no escape from Microsoft Teams, even in the virtual world, after the company’s new update.
Microsoft wants to help workers around the world create a new generation of industry through a series of updates to its HoloLens 2 augmented reality goggles, one of which is the addition of the popular video conferencing service.
The update will bring full support for Microsoft Teams tools and features in HoloLens 2, including screen sharing, calendar coordination, and of course, live video calls and meetings.
HoloLens 2 Microsoft Teams
The launch builds on existing video calling capabilities in HoloLens 2 using Microsoft Dynamics 365 Remote Assist, combined with step-by-step holographic instructions in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Guides such as support calls, product demos, or remote inspections.
“Now they can do both at the same time with the latest version of Dynamics 365 Guides, which combines these two mixed reality apps into one seamless experience,” the company wrote in a blog post. (opens in a new tab).
“Users can intuitively switch between processes and collaboration activities, or do both at the same time. Easy access to the information they need and the people they work with are at their fingertips, so everyone can take action with confidence in the industrial metaverse.”
In the future, HoloLens 2 users will be able to call Teams users directly, as well as join group meetings, which will now appear as a hologram in their space.
HoloLens 2 users will also be able to view any content shared in Teams meetings, opening a separate window for live or video presentations if needed, which can then be customized and positioned as desired.
They will also be able to view and add Teams contacts to their conversations and check and view both their calendar and those of others, with the ability to join Teams meetings directly from the calendar view, just like using a laptop or PC.
People who are not wearing a HoloLens 2 headset will see video from the wearer’s point of view, similar to GoPro video. In addition to video streaming, HoloLens 2 users can communicate via text chat and open any images or PDF files sent on their display.
Using the mixed reality toolbar on the desktop also means desktop users can add 3D annotations to the virtual display – so if they’re drawing on their own screen, handwriting is automatically added to the HoloLens 2 view.
New updates are now available for HoloLens 2 users to install and start using.
The news came shortly after the U.S. Army saw the first shipment of 5,000 custom-designed Microsoft HoloLens headsets.
The new Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) units have been extensively adapted from existing HoloLens 2 headsets and feature a head-up display capable of offering high-resolution data from night, thermal and soldier sensors – all powered by Microsoft Azure cloud services.