Microsoft is refreshing Teams' virtual backgrounds library with new animated versions to allow users greater scope for self-expression.
It's the most significant update to the virtual backgrounds in Teams stock since the original launch in 2020, with various styles to vitalise meetings. A new series of still images have been added to the Teams collection and will be followed by animated versions in June.
The Microsoft Design team wrote in a blog post:
The power of backgrounds as catalysts for communication and self-expression fueled the refresh of the Teams in-app background library. The most extensive update since the first collection released in 2020, the new backgrounds that are beginning to rollout reflect Teams' continued desire to elevate personal expression and they're tailor-made to address top concerns of the modern workforce: collaboration, well-being, productivity, and focus."
The new backgrounds have been assorted into six categories, ranging from realistic spaces like coworking spaces or traditional offices to fun and inventive background scenes.
"In the zone" is a selection of contemporary rooms designed with calmer tones. "Escape artist" is about a "sense of mood", according to the Microsoft Design team, with design elements combining modern geometric forms and stranger organic shapes, including the wind and flowers.
With beautiful scenery and cascading flower petals, "Feeling dreamy" is "poetry and dreams realised", according to the blog. Meanwhile, the "Imagination at play" collection marries surreal images with strange colours to "leave an impression" in meetings.
There is also a "Belonging" category, emphasising accessibility for vision, hearing, and mental health. Backgrounds intend to help people on the autism spectrum who might react to specific patterns or images.
