Zoom Introduces Four Features to Create Engaging Experiences

A host of new features are coming to Zoom Meetings including avatars, meeting templates, threaded messages, chat reactions and Q and A

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Four new Zoom features
Unified CommunicationsLatest News

Published: January 10, 2023

Ryan Smith

Technology Journalist

Zoom has unveiled four new features to its platform designed to create engaging experiences within the hybrid workspace.

The collaboration giant has introduced avatars, meeting templates, threaded messages, and the option to hold a Q&A during meetings.

David Ball, Product Marketing Manager, Meetings and Chat at Zoom, said: “As we ring in 2023, we can’t wait to share new features to help you stay connected, enhance productivity, and create engaging experiences.

“Whether you’re building your own personal avatar, simplifying your meetings with meeting templates, or creating a space for learning with Q&A in meetings, we’re so excited to see how you use these features.”

Zoom Avatars

Zoom has said that it is adding avatars to its platform in order to “make meetings more flexible and fun”.

The new avatars are an addition to the animal avatars that Zoom released last year and will be customisable for customers to use within meetings.

The company states there are “numerous personalisation combinations” so users can display the “virtual you”.

Zoom’s avatars will mirror a user’s movements and facial expressions so they can present themselves dynamically without needing to be on video.

Zoom avatars are available to all Zoom users, with the feature being in a beta phase.

The company says that as the beta progresses, it will continue to expand Zoom avatars with additional facial features, hairstyles, and more customisable options.

Meeting Templates

Zoom has made it possible to simplify the process of adjusting settings for each different type of meeting by introducing the meeting templates feature.

Users can now create, save, and choose from custom meeting templates that can automatically apply the correct settings.

Zoom has created three “out-of-the-box” meeting templates, including the following:

  • Large Meetings: Zoom states these are perfect for team-wide meetings or town halls. The setting enables automated captions for all participants, and content is automatically recorded for future reference.
  • Seminars: This provides the ideal settings for corporate training meetings or high education classrooms. Zoom has acknowledged that tighter crowd control is needed in this environment, so settings such as participant screen sharing are disabled.
  • K-12: This setting is designed for K-12 classrooms where features such as advanced polls and quizzes are enabled. It is designed to foster greater engagement and productivity.

Ball added:

“Whether using one of these new default meeting templates we’ve provided or customizing your own, using Meeting Templates will help you feel comfortable knowing you’ve got the right type of meeting scheduled; focus on your content rather than spend time toggling settings.”

Threaded Messages and Chat Reactions

Zoom claims that the in-meeting chat is a “crucial resource for sharing information, resources, and comments”.

Due to this, Zoom is releasing threaded messages and reactions to allow meeting participants to create message threads and consolidate emoji reactions within the in-meeting chat.

The feature is designed to organise chat messages and clarify which messages meeting participants are responding to.

Zoom confirmed that the feature would be available later this month.

Meeting Q&A

Zoom’s Q&A feature is already available in Zoom Webinars to help the hosts engage with webinar attendees.

Now Zoom users can enjoy the same functionality within meetings as well as the company aims to allow hosts to stay more organised by having one place to view and answer questions.

From the Q&A pop-out, meeting hosts and co-hosts will be able to view, answer, or dismiss questions from participants.

Hosts will also have the ability to decide whether meeting participants can view all the questions or only the ones that have been answered.

Q&A in meetings is available for customers with Zoom One Business, Zoom One Business Plus, Zoom One Enterprise, and Zoom One Enterprise Plus.

 

 

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