It seems that the metaverse is still active.
Microsoft is continuing to go forward with the metaverse, despite the fact that the majority of us had dismissed it as a stupid fad that had no chance of ever getting established in the mainstream. An announcement was made by the firm stating that the Teams communication app now contains “generally available” new features that are similar to those found in the metaverse and are termed Microsoft Mesh. Mesh, according to the company, can assist employees in developing better emotional relationships with coworkers who are located in different geographic locations.
The screenshots that Microsoft was kind enough to give for Mesh in Teams appear to be very comparable to other metaverse scenarios that we have seen in the past. Theoretically, a gathering of legless avatars in a virtual area with a fantasy ambiance has the potential to convert a mundane conference call or happy hour into an event that is more engaging and draws people closer together.
The findings of Microsoft’s research indicate that it has been challenging for employees working remotely to form relationships with one another, and that in order for businesses to be successful, they want people who have a sense of connection with one another. Mesh is a corporate metaverse that is only compatible with Meta Quest headsets, and the company thinks that it is the solution to this problem.
The implementation of this feature involves the incorporation of pre-designed “immersive” 3D locations into Teams, which are then made available as a choice within the application for a new conference call. These are akin to a digital version of the fantasy island known as Fantasy Island. A video that was given by Microsoft shows that one of the possibilities is a hillside house that is set in the future and has meeting rooms both inside and outside. It is possible to pick these three-dimensional spaces from within Teams, and they can also be altered using a “no-code” editor. The site claims that these spaces were created using the Unity engine. Microsoft claims that you are also able to add customised banners; therefore, in theory, you could add one that states, “Is this good for the company?” According to Microsoft, businesses are also able to construct their own individualised environments.
The onboarding of corporate employees is also another route for Mesh. Microsoft asserts that it is able to assist new employees in gaining a better understanding of the values of a firm and become fully immersed in the culture of the organisation from the very beginning. An illustration of how this has been successful is provided by Microsoft, which states that the consulting business Accenture has already onboarded 300,000 people since 2021 in a virtual campus that was developed just for them. New hires can even ride a virtual monorail to sample educational exhibits, meet other employees in gathering spaces, or drop in to hear lectures in virtual auditoriums. All of these activities are available to them when they start working here.
Due to the fact that Mesh is not free, Microsoft is providing businesses with a free trial period of six months. You will need to configure Teams to allow it, which will require the involvement of IT. There is also the possibility that businesses will wish to create individualised environments, and there is also the requirement that each employee must have a Quest headset. In the event that you would like to use the Mesh app as a standalone programme, it is also available for download via the Meta Quest platform.