As part of your filter collection videoconferencing service Zoom has launched virtual avatars in beta around the world.
Announcement (opens in a new tab) of the new feature on his blog, Zoom said avatars would make meetings “more flexible and fun” by allowing users to “view [their] “virtual you”.
The “original and fun” feature is hot on your heels Microsoft Teams adding a similar albeit better looking avatars for users in the technical access program in October 2022, which in turn resemble those seen in Meta’s Horizon Workrooms Metaverse in the workplace.
Why?
In its post, Zoom claims that avatars help people appear present and engaged, allow them to appear “more dynamic”, and enable “fun activities” in hybrid workplace.
Although it is possible service users who prefer to have their cameras turned off may find avatars a suitable medium, others who are more ambivalent about the concept of ‘fun in the workplace’ may struggle.
Finding ways to make meetings more painful seems to be a top priority for the biggest collaboration tool suppliers.
In December 2022 TechRadar Pro reported that Google Meet recognized three bizarre face filters ready for human consumption, after Zoom revealed similar filters in March this year.
However, innovations in video calling can create much more dangerous problems than cumbersome filters. How TechRadar Pro reported in November 2022, Zoom announced at its annual Zoomtopia event that the app is expected to come to all new Tesla models soon.
Avatars for Zoom are just one of four features recently announced by the company. Following in the footsteps Premium Teamsnow offers customizable setting templates for meetings based on size and situation, including large meetings and classrooms, to make meeting arrangements easier.
Threaded conversations, the foundation of Slack (and now also Google Chat) are now also available in all meetings, with the introduction of the Q&A feature, previously reserved for webinars if enabled by your administrator.