Before the rise of artificial intelligence as the dominant topic in technology, the metaverse captured the imagination of many. Major tech companies were eager to develop virtual environments that facilitated digital interactions, blending elements of virtual reality with the real world. Facebook’s commitment to this vision was so profound that it rebranded itself as Meta in 2021. However, the allure of AI appears to have outlasted that of the metaverse.
Microsoft Teams Introduces Immersive Events
In a notable development, Microsoft Teams has launched immersive events in public preview, enhancing the virtual meeting experience. These events are designed to foster interaction, featuring spatial audio capabilities that allow participants to engage in casual side conversations—often the lifeblood of networking and collaboration that traditional virtual meetings can overlook.
“Co-presence often leads to spontaneous conversations and deeper connections from sharing experiences,” Microsoft explains. The immersive events in Teams aim to prioritize what truly matters: the people, the conversations, and the unique shared space.
Each participant is represented by a customizable virtual avatar, which adds a personal touch to the experience. Upon joining a meeting for the first time, users can tailor their avatars to reflect their identities. Additionally, hosts have the flexibility to personalize the event space without requiring any coding skills.
“Immersive events in Teams help you focus on what matters: people, conversations, and a unique shared space.”
Microsoft, on a new metaverse feature in Microsoft Teams
While Microsoft Teams has long supported virtual meetings, the introduction of immersive events expands upon this foundation. Although the immersive space view accommodates up to 16 attendees, the new immersive events can host larger groups. Over time, these immersive events are expected to replace the existing Immersive Space view within Teams.
Participants can join immersive events using a PC, Mac, or a Meta Quest headset, although the latter requires the Teams immersive app. While organizing these events necessitates a Teams Premium subscription, attendees can join without needing this plan.
For those interested in creating an immersive event, Microsoft has outlined a straightforward process:
- Select Calendar in Teams.
- Click the dropdown arrow next to New event.
- Choose Immersive event.
- Fill in the scheduling form with event details, co-organizers, and attendees.
- Select an Immersive experience template, which will serve as the pre-designed 3D space for your event.
- Click Save and send invites to notify co-organizers and add the event to your Teams calendar.
- Customize the banner image in attendee email invites by selecting Event invitation.
- Finally, click Publish to send out event invites, which will include all necessary information and join links.
Three distinct environments are available for immersive events: Cascades, Oasis, and Canvas. Cascades features a virtual stage with tiered seating, ideal for presentations, while also offering a social area equipped with icebreaker activities. Oasis serves as a virtual conference room suited for larger team gatherings. Canvas, on the other hand, provides a blank slate for creators and hosts to customize as they see fit.
