Do you inwardly (or outwardly) groan at the thought of yet another video call?

They’re now a regular part of our working lives, but it doesn’t make them any more exciting.

Good news: Microsoft is introducing Metaverse-style avatars, called Mesh avatars, to Teams.

You’ll be able to design your avatar, personalizing its appearance and accessories, and even choosing its reaction gestures.

According to Microsoft, it’s common for us to feel stressed and exhausted after spending a long time on camera. So, using a virtual representation of yourself to reduce that stress is just one application for these new avatars.

Better still, you won’t need an expensive virtual reality headset. It’s all done using the Avatars app available in the Microsoft Teams app store.

Big tech is investing billions in developing the Metaverse – a 3D virtual world that mimics the real world. Within it, you’ll find many things you’re already familiar with – shops, workplaces, and even social spaces. Some predict it will become ‘the new internet’ in the coming years.

It might seem wild to imagine a virtual world like this – but 20 years ago, it was hard to imagine routinely having a mobile video call with someone on the other side of the world.

Times change, and it’s fascinating.

The new avatar feature is only available in the Teams preview build, but we’ll get a general release date soon.

Will you encourage your people to use personalized avatars in Teams? Want to find more ways to make work more fun for your team? We can help. Get in touch.