Microsoft is launching a new feature for video meetings that places participants against a shared virtual background, removing individual backdrops in an effort to make it easier to pick up on non-verbal cues and to interact more like in real life.

The company’s research shows that the approach leads to better focus and retention of content, and stronger connections among meeting participants, said Microsoft research scientist Jaron Lanier, the author, virtual reality pioneer, and musician, hosting a group of journalists in a demonstration of the feature this week.

“It makes pandemic-era meetings less miserable, less isolating, less fatiguing, less weird — although a little weird in its own way,” Lanier acknowledged.

The feature, known as “Together” mode, will be generally available for Microsoft Teams in August, starting with a virtual auditorium, and ultimately expanding to offer other backdrops such as a coffee shop and classroom.

Microsoft designed the feature to be spatially accurate as a mirror of the audience, letting participants gesture toward others in the shared space, for example. When someone starts to talk, people who are paying attention tend to turn just slightly toward the speaker, Lanier explained.

It’s one of several updates announced by the company for its Teams collaboration and conferencing software. Others include:

  • A new “Dynamic view” that uses artificial intelligence to determine how to best show participants and shared content on screen;
  • Filters that adjust the look of video similar to those used for photos;
  • Dedicated devices and displays designed for Microsoft Teams;
  • A new polling feature for managers and teachers to quickly check in on the moods of employees and students;
  • The ability for meeting participants to react with emojis that can be seen by everyone else on a meeting.
  • New features to conduct meetings in person without touching shared screens, using a phone app, for example.

Microsoft is competing against Zoom, Google, Slack and others in what has suddenly become a booming market for remote collaboration and communication, fueled by stay-at-home mandates to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

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