One of the challenges of remote work is isolation; one has to work alone without a colleague around. It is also a hassle to brainstorm in remote work arrangements. To tackle this, on August 19, 2021, Facebook (NASDAQ: FB) launched the open beta of Facebook Horizon Workrooms.
Facebook Horizon Workrooms is a flagship collaboration experience that brings together the remotely placed colleagues in a virtual meeting room. This new technology by Facebook operates in virtual reality (VR) and the web improving remote collaboration, communication, and connection.
Harnessing the power of VR, Facebook Horizon Workrooms brings people together to brainstorm or whiteboard an idea, work on a document, hear updates from their teams, hang out and socialize. The VR experience is designed to aid better and free-flowing conversations without technical glitches.
This VR experience by Facebook Horizon Workrooms is available on the Oculus Quest 2 series of VR glasses. “Using features like the mixed-reality desk and keyboard tracking, hand tracking, remote desktop streaming, video conferencing integration, spatial audio, and the new Oculus Avatars,” Facebook ensured the product was tried well within Facebook for maximum buyer outcome.
Facebook has been in the basket of legal issues for years at length, primarily because of data privacy concerns. So, in this virtual reality workplace experience, users are given the control to regulate their experience. The social media giant has further clarified not using classified workplace conversations and materials to inform ads on Facebook.
The Passthrough feature processes images and videos of a user’s physical environment from the device sensors locally. Neither Facebook nor third-party apps will access, view, or use these images or videos to target ads.
The permissions a user grants for the Oculus Remote Desktop app ensure that user is in control of with whom they share their computer screens. Basically, unlike in reality, when a boss or a colleague could just stand behind you remotely checking your screen, no one can spy on you in the virtual reality workplace technology by Facebook.
If a user is troubled by fellow VR participants, they can report the miscreant using the Oculus reporting tool with evidence to review. In the process, if someone records and sends Facebook a clip of the audio content, Facebook’ll act to delete the recordings from the miscreant’s access.
Facebook Horizon Workrooms requires a Workrooms account, which is separate from your Oculus or Facebook accounts. To experience Workrooms in VR, users need to access the Quest 2, which requires a Facebook login. Updating the user’s Workrooms account will bear no changes on the user’s Facebook account. The links to download are- to download on Oculus Quest 2 in countries where Quest 2 is supported.
Facebook Horizon Workrooms is now in beta mode. The team is making the whole VR experience accessible on Facebook and third-party Facebook developers who would like to incorporate the feature in their apps. In fact, developers can already start with hand tracking and spatial audio, avatars, Passthrough, mixed-reality desk, and tracked keyboard capabilities.
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