Facebook competing with Microsoft and Google about home workers
Remote working will be common also after the pandemic and Facebook is entering the competition with other big tech companies offering streamlined solutions for working from home. Microsoft has its Teams and Google its Workspace with Facebook launching Horizon Workrooms based on virtual reality.
“Working without colleagues around you can feel isolating at times and brainstorming with other people just doesn’t feel the same if you’re not in the same room”, Facebook said announcing an open beta version of its Workrooms available to download on Oculus Quest 2, the company’s virtual reality headset.
The company said the solution works across both virtual reality and the web and is designed to improve team’s ability to collaborate, communicate, and connect remotely, through VR. Workrooms is using features like mixed-reality desk and keyboard tracking, hand tracking, remote desktop streaming, video conferencing integration, spatial audio, and the Oculus Avatars.
“Workrooms is a virtual meeting space where you and your colleagues can work better together from anywhere. You can join a meeting in VR as an avatar or dial into the virtual room from your computer by video call. You can use a huge virtual whiteboard to sketch out ideas together, bring your computer and keyboard into VR to work together with others, or just have expressive conversations that feel more like you’re together in person.”
Facebook notes that not everyone will always have a VR headset handy, so users can also dial into a room from a computer by video call. Video participants will show up on a video screen in the virtual room, like in a conference room. 16 people can be in VR together, and up to 50 people total on a call, including video participants.
Workrooms comes with a place on the web to capture notes and action items, share links and files, and chat with team. Users can sync Outlook or Google Calendar to schedule meetings and send invites.
Concerning privacy and security, the company says Workrooms conversations, materials, images and videos will not be used to inform advertisers. Those who sign up for Workrooms will have to agree to follow community standards and conduct in VR policy.
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