Avatars for Microsoft Teams in Public Preview

Summary:

Avatars for Microsoft Teams begins rolling out to public preview today.

A day of hybrid meetings can be exhausting, especially when you’re distracted by how you or your background looks. According to our research, video usage is highly correlated to meeting participation, inclusiveness, and effectiveness. However, only ~30% of participants meet with their video on. Avatars for Microsoft Teams offers an alternative to the current binary option of video or no video. Avatars for Teams gives you that much-needed camera break, while still allowing you to collaborate effectively. Include more people in the conversation— whether they need a break due to video fatigue, are joining from a different time zone, or just feel more comfortable with their video off.

Starting today, you can represent yourself the way you want with customizable avatars and reactions. Learn more about enabling the avatars for Teams public preview experience here. For more information on Microsoft Mesh, visit our website.

Since we announced the release to private preview in October, we’ve made a few updates.

Improved Avatars

Our first step toward more realistic avatars is a new lighting system. This has improved performance and enhanced the appearance of avatar skin and hair.

Wardrobe, Headwear, and Accessories

Represent yourself the way that you want. This new version will include a multitude of new customization options, like bhindis and hearing aids.

Reactions

We understand that there is a lot that can be communicated non-verbally, so we’ve upgraded our reactions. If you react using the Teams emoji reactions, your avatar will mimic that reaction with their body. For example, if you utilize the raised hand reaction, your avatar will also raise their hand.