All articles tagged with #videoconferencing
Zoom's CEO Eric Yuan acknowledges the decline in the platform's popularity post-pandemic and emphasizes the company's need to reinvent itself beyond just videoconferencing, focusing on artificial intelligence and new work models to stay relevant.
A startup named Pickle offers a service that allows users to create digital avatars for video conferencing, enabling them to appear present in meetings while being elsewhere. Users submit a five-minute training video to generate their avatar, which can be used on platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams. The service, currently available only for MacOS, is backed by Krew Capital and ranges in price from $300 to $1,150 annually. Due to high demand, there is a delay in avatar generation.
Google Meet's new "adaptive audio" feature will merge microphones and speakers from multiple laptops in the same room to improve audio clarity and reduce feedback, benefiting small organizations and teams without dedicated videoconferencing equipment. This feature will be gradually rolled out to certain Google Workspace customers and will be enabled by default.
Zoom's stock surged 10% in after-hours trading after the company reported strong financial results and forecasts, including a fiscal fourth-quarter net income of $298.8 million and revenue of $1.15 billion. The company also announced a $1.5 billion buyback and emphasized its commitment to democratizing AI accessibility for all customers. Despite competition from tech giants like Microsoft, Cisco, and Google, Zoom has maintained its position with a consistent release of products and services.
A study conducted by Austrian investigators has found that videoconferencing fatigue (VCF) is a real issue, supported by self-report evidence from around the world. The study focused on the consequences of VCF by measuring electrical activity in the brains of 35 university students who watched a 50-minute lecture via videoconference. The results showed that those who attended the live lecture reported feeling more lively, happy, and active, while online participants felt more tired, drowsy, and fed-up.
A brain-monitoring study published in the journal Scientific Reports has found a connection between videoconferencing and physical symptoms of fatigue, supporting the phenomenon known as "Zoom fatigue." The study monitored 35 students attending engineering lectures and found notable differences between those attending in person and those attending online. Video participants experienced mounting fatigue and struggled to pay attention, while in-person participants reported feeling livelier and happier. The researchers suggest that videoconferencing should be considered as a complement to face-to-face interaction, but not as a substitute, and call for further studies to explore the impact of videoconferencing in different settings.
A brain-monitoring study published in the journal Scientific Reports has found a connection between videoconferencing and physical symptoms of fatigue, supporting the phenomenon known as "Zoom fatigue." The study monitored 35 students attending engineering lectures, with half attending via videoconference and the other half attending in person. Participants were monitored with EEG and ECG instruments, and surveys were conducted on their mood and fatigue levels. The study found notable differences between the in-person and online groups, with video participants experiencing mounting fatigue and struggling to pay attention. The research suggests that videoconferencing should be considered as a complement to face-to-face interaction, not a substitute, and calls for further studies in different settings to better understand the impact of videoconferencing on participants' bodies and brains.
A brain-monitoring study published in the journal Scientific Reports has found a connection between videoconferencing and physical symptoms of fatigue, supporting the phenomenon known as "Zoom fatigue." The study monitored 35 students attending engineering lectures and found notable differences between those attending in person and those attending online. Video participants experienced mounting fatigue, struggled to pay attention, and reported feeling tired and fed up. The study suggests that videoconferencing should be considered as a complement to face-to-face interaction, not a substitute, and calls for further research to understand the full impact of videoconferencing on participants' bodies and brains.
Zoom's shares rose in after-hours trading after the company raised its full-year sales and profit forecast, following better-than-expected third-quarter results driven by an increase in high-paying customers and AI offerings.
Verizon is shutting down BlueJeans, the videoconferencing app it acquired for $400 million during the early days of the pandemic. BlueJeans' free Basic plan and free trial offerings will be discontinued on August 31st, but it is unclear how long paid customers will have access to the service. With many companies bringing workers back to the office, virtual collaboration apps like BlueJeans are no longer in high demand.
LG has released the LG Smart Cam, a $99 HD webcam for its TVs running webOS 22 or webOS 23. The webcam features dual microphones, a privacy shutter, and supports webOS's multi-view feature. It can be used for videoconferencing with LG's web-based RemoteMeeting app and is compatible with fitness apps like Exercite and Flexit. LG has also developed a K-pop dance app called Home Dance by 1M. However, the camera's functionality is limited by the webOS platform, which may not support popular apps like Zoom or Google Meet. Other TV webcam options are available, including Sony's Bravia Cam and Apple's Continuity Camera.
Zoom's stock price has risen after the company reported strong earnings for the first quarter of its fiscal year, beating expectations. The videoconferencing software company's improved outlook has also contributed to the positive market response.
Google's Project Starline, a videoconferencing system that uses AI to create photorealistic 3D images of people, has been reduced to the size of a flat-screen TV and stand. The technology combines feeds from several standard cameras and sensors to create realistic images that make it seem like the person is right in front of you. Companies like T-Mobile, Salesforce, and WeWork have already tried the latest prototype through an early access program. Project Starline has the potential to create authentic and immersive connections that foster deeper relationships with employees and customers, enhance trust and transparency, and drive productivity and efficiency.
Logitech's Project Ghost videoconferencing booth, designed in collaboration with Steelcase, aims to enhance video calls and make them feel less impersonal. The booth uses a teleprompter-like approach to beam the chat buddy's face onto a pane of glass that's recessed in the booth directly in front of the user. The camera is positioned at eye level to preserve natural eye contact during video calls, and the furniture and interior layout can be customized. Project Ghost is estimated to cost between $15,000 and $20,000 and is expected to be available for purchase this fall.