Nov 3, 2021
Microsoft Teams adds 3D avatars as it lays out metaverse ambitions
Microsoft says the new features, which it is calling "Immersive meetings" will be available in the first half of 2022.It comes after Facebook showcased similar virtual chat rooms as part of its rebrand to name itself Meta.While there is no single strict definition of what a "Metaverse" will be, most versions envision a future version of the internet with a diverse range of interconnected virtual worlds, covering everything from gaming to education. Teams is Microsoft's business chat and video call app, similar to Zoom or Google Meet, and a version is also available for personal users. Microsoft is focusing less on the need for a virtual reality or augmented reality headset, though it will support them. "Too many people, too much of the time, are a static picture or bubble with initials," wrote Microsoft's John Roach in a blog post. Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella, explaining the new systems at Microsoft's Ignite event, said: "What's most important is that we are able to bring our humanity with us, and choose how we want to experience this world."The metaverse is not just transforming how we see the world, it's changing how all of us actively participate in it.
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