Microsoft has officially launched Mesh virtual meeting spaces, bringing the metaverse to the workplace. Instead of traditional video calls, workers can now use virtual reality headsets to interact with colleagues in a variety of three-dimensional environments. Microsoft envisions a wide range of applications for this technology, including town halls, social gatherings, brainstorming sessions, and employee onboarding.
Mesh spaces can be accessed via a regular PC, with users controlling personalized avatars to navigate the settings. For a fully immersive experience, support for Meta’s Quest headsets will be available soon. Microsoft believes that immersive meetings can help remote workers stay connected and improve employee retention by providing a sense of co-presence, even when physically separated.
Mesh spaces can be accessed through Microsoft Teams or a standalone app available in the Microsoft App Store. Businesses can also customize 3D environments using a no-code editor and a Unity-based toolkit for building 3D venues. Analysts believe that Mesh can play a role in creating cohesion for hybrid working arrangements, but its widespread adoption remains uncertain.
The mood around metaverse-related technologies has shifted in recent years, and the adoption of Mesh may be more gradual than expected. The key question is whether workers will be willing to meet and collaborate in virtual spaces using avatars. Despite the efforts of tech vendors such as Meta, the future of metaverse-related technologies remains uncertain.
2024-01-27 06:00:04
Article from www.computerworld.com