Like it or not — or perhaps most are used to them by now — but video calls are here to stay for good. Apps like Zoom might have lost their novelty factor but with more people getting used to them, it’s time for competition to outdo each other. Google, as per an online report, is working on a number of features for Meet, its video-conferencing application.
According to a report by 9to5Google, the Mountain View-based tech giant is working on a feature that will let users blur backgrounds or replace them completely. Users will have a lot of default options or they can choose their own preferred backgrounds. The report states that admins on group meetings will have the option to disable the particular feature. The idea behind the feature is to let others not see certain surroundings which one may not want to show. The feature is also directed at making students and teachers more comfortable while attending meetings or classes on Meet. While the exact date of the new feature is not known, it is expected to be rolled out in the coming months.
The custom background feature isn’t the only one that Google is planning to bring to Meet. The report says that a hand raising feature that will make conversations easier by allowing participants to virtually raise their hands is also expected to arrive.
Another feature that is expected is Meeting attendance, which will give an idea to the host to know who participated in the meeting.
A new Q&A feature is also rumoured to be in the works and it will allow users to ask questions without interrupting an ongoing meeting or conversation. Google is also expected to give meeting hosts more controls like giving the option of muting someone as well.
Some of these features are already available on Google Meet’s rivals like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
Google has several new features in the works in Meet to take on Zoom.
