Zoom around as Mr. Fox or Brer Rabbit

© Zoom Video Communications.

With Zoom’s 5.10 update, you can attend your next meeting as a rabbit, a fox, or any other animal you choose. The new Avatar feature replaces your face with a virtual character that copies your facial expressions. Though you’re limited to the animal world in this first version, more avatar options will become available. In its press release, Zoom said that this feature is useful in several settings; for example, an avatar filter could “bring some fun to your team-building meetings” or help pediatricians look less intimidating to young patients.

We tested the feature and found that the avatars were not very expressive or responsive compared to those in Snapchat’s Snap Camera application. Zoom explains that the feature is in beta mode, and having put it through its paces, we have to agree. Zoom avatars have the advantage, however, of not relying on an external application.

⇨ The Verge, Mitchell Clark, “Zoom’s new virtual avatars let you show up to your next meeting as a dog.”

2022-03-22