In the ever-evolving landscape of remote collaboration, Microsoft Teams has consistently sought to innovate beyond the traditional grid view of video conferencing. One of its more ambitious and visually striking attempts is “Together Mode,” a feature designed to immerse participants in a shared virtual environment, most commonly an auditorium or lecture hall. Introduced in July 2020. Together Mode aims to combat the fatigue and disengagement often associated with prolonged video calls by creating a more natural and engaging experience. Instead of seeing a collection of individual boxes, participants are digitally placed side-by-side in a simulated space, fostering a sense of shared presence and potentially improving non-verbal communication. This review essay will delve into the functionality, benefits, drawbacks, real-world applications, and alternatives to Together Mode, ultimately assessing its overall effectiveness and value in the context of modern collaboration.
Together Mode operates by leveraging AI-powered segmentation technology to isolate the image of each participant from their background. This process, similar to that used for virtual backgrounds, allows Teams to seamlessly overlay each individual onto a pre-designed virtual scene. The most common scene is the auditorium, where participants appear seated in rows of chairs facing the “stage.” However, Microsoft has expanded the available scenes to include a coffee shop, a conference room, and even a family gathering setting.
The functionality is relatively straightforward for the end-user. To initiate Together Mode, the meeting organizer or presenter needs to have at least five participants (including themselves) in the meeting. The option to switch to Together Mode is located within the meeting controls, typically under the “View” menu. Once selected, all participants are prompted to enable the feature. It’s important to note that Together Mode is a view setting, meaning it only affects how the user perceives the meeting and doesn’t alter the video feed sent to other participants.
The AI segmentation process is crucial to the success of Together Mode. It relies on accurately identifying the edges of each participant and separating them from their background. This requires sufficient lighting and a relatively uncluttered background for optimal performance. Poor lighting or a busy background can lead to artifacts, such as missing limbs or distorted outlines, which can detract from the immersive experience.
Furthermore, Together Mode offers limited customization options. While users can choose from a selection of pre-designed scenes, they cannot upload their own custom backgrounds or adjust the placement of participants within the virtual environment. The arrangement of participants is generally determined algorithmically, based on factors such as join order or speaking activity.
Beyond the visual transformation, Together Mode also incorporates subtle audio enhancements. The spatial audio feature attempts to simulate the directionality of sound within the virtual environment, making it easier to identify who is speaking and where they are located within the scene. This can contribute to a more natural and engaging listening experience.
The primary benefit of Together Mode lies in its potential to enhance engagement and reduce the fatigue associated with traditional video conferencing. By creating a shared virtual environment, it aims to foster a sense of connection and camaraderie among participants. Seeing colleagues seated alongside each other, even in a virtual setting, can create a stronger sense of shared presence and belonging than viewing them in isolated boxes.
This sense of shared presence can be particularly beneficial for large meetings or presentations. In a traditional grid view, it can be difficult to track the reactions and non-verbal cues of all participants. Together Mode, by placing participants in a more visually cohesive arrangement, makes it easier to scan the audience and gauge their engagement. This can be invaluable for presenters who rely on audience feedback to adjust their delivery and ensure that their message is resonating.
Furthermore, Together Mode can help to combat the cognitive overload associated with processing multiple individual video feeds. The grid view often requires users to constantly shift their attention between different faces, which can be mentally taxing. By presenting participants in a unified scene, Together Mode reduces the visual clutter and allows users to focus more easily on the speaker and the overall flow of the conversation.
Another potential benefit of Together Mode is its ability to promote more natural and spontaneous interactions. In a traditional video conference, participants often feel the need to explicitly signal their intention to speak, leading to awkward pauses and interruptions. Together Mode, by creating a more informal and collaborative atmosphere, can encourage participants to engage in more spontaneous and organic conversations.
Finally, Together Mode can be a valuable tool for fostering a sense of community within remote teams. By providing a shared virtual space for interaction, it can help to bridge the physical distance between team members and create a stronger sense of connection and belonging. This can be particularly important for teams that are geographically dispersed or that have recently transitioned to a remote work model.
Despite its potential benefits, Together Mode also has several limitations and potential drawbacks that need to be considered. One of the most significant limitations is its reliance on accurate AI segmentation. As mentioned earlier, poor lighting or a busy background can lead to artifacts and distortions that detract from the immersive experience. This can be particularly problematic for users who have limited control over their environment or who are using older or less powerful devices.
Another limitation is the lack of customization options. While the available scenes are visually appealing, they may not be suitable for all types of meetings or presentations. The inability to upload custom backgrounds or adjust the placement of participants can limit the flexibility and adaptability of the feature.
Furthermore, Together Mode can be disorienting or even distracting for some users. The artificial nature of the virtual environment can feel unnatural or unsettling, particularly for those who are accustomed to traditional video conferencing. The constant movement and shifting of participants within the scene can also be distracting, making it difficult to focus on the speaker or the content being presented.
Another potential drawback is the lack of individual control over the view. While the meeting organizer or presenter can initiate Together Mode, individual participants cannot opt out of the view. This can be problematic for users who find the feature distracting or uncomfortable.
Finally, Together Mode can be resource-intensive, particularly on older or less powerful devices. The AI segmentation process and the rendering of the virtual environment can consume significant processing power, leading to performance issues such as lag or dropped frames. This can be a significant barrier to adoption for users who are using older hardware or who have limited bandwidth.
Despite its limitations, Together Mode has found several real-world applications where it can significantly enhance collaboration and engagement. One common use case is in educational settings. Teachers and professors can use Together Mode to create a more engaging and interactive learning environment for their students. By placing students in a virtual classroom, they can foster a sense of community and encourage participation.
Another application is in large team meetings or presentations. As mentioned earlier, Together Mode can make it easier to track the reactions and non-verbal cues of all participants, allowing presenters to adjust their delivery and ensure that their message is resonating. This can be particularly valuable for town hall meetings or company-wide announcements.
Together Mode can also be used to facilitate brainstorming sessions or collaborative workshops. By creating a shared virtual space for interaction, it can encourage participants to engage in more spontaneous and organic conversations. This can be particularly helpful for teams that are geographically dispersed or that have recently transitioned to a remote work model.
Furthermore, Together Mode can be used to create a more informal and social atmosphere for virtual gatherings. By placing participants in a virtual coffee shop or family gathering setting, it can help to foster a sense of connection and camaraderie among team members. This can be particularly important for building relationships and strengthening team bonds.
Finally, Together Mode can be used to enhance accessibility for participants with disabilities. For example, users with visual impairments may find it easier to track the speaker and the overall flow of the conversation when participants are presented in a unified scene.
While Together Mode offers a unique approach to enhancing collaboration, several alternative approaches and similar features exist in other video conferencing applications. One common alternative is the use of breakout rooms, which allow meeting organizers to divide participants into smaller groups for focused discussions or activities. Breakout rooms can be particularly useful for facilitating brainstorming sessions or collaborative workshops.
Another alternative is the use of interactive whiteboards, which allow participants to collaboratively create and edit documents in real-time. Interactive whiteboards can be particularly useful for brainstorming, planning, and problem-solving.
Several other video conferencing applications offer features that are similar to Together Mode. For example, Zoom offers “Immersive View,” which allows meeting organizers to place participants in a variety of virtual scenes, similar to Together Mode. Google Meet offers “Companion Mode,” which allows users to join a meeting from a second device, providing them with access to additional features such as chat and polls.
Ultimately, the best approach to enhancing collaboration will depend on the specific needs and preferences of the users. It is important to experiment with different features and approaches to find what works best for your team.
Together Mode represents a bold and innovative attempt to address the challenges of remote collaboration. By creating a shared virtual environment, it aims to foster a sense of connection and engagement among participants. While the feature has several limitations and potential drawbacks, it also offers significant benefits, particularly in educational settings, large team meetings, and collaborative workshops.
The success of Together Mode hinges on the accuracy of its AI segmentation technology and the availability of suitable virtual scenes. As technology improves and more customization options become available, the feature has the potential to become an even more valuable tool for enhancing collaboration.
However, it is important to acknowledge that Together Mode is not a panacea for all the challenges of remote work. It is just one tool in a larger toolkit that includes breakout rooms, interactive whiteboards, and other collaborative features. The key to successful remote collaboration is to experiment with different approaches and find what works best for your team.
In conclusion, Together Mode is a promising experiment that has the potential to transform the way we collaborate remotely. While it is not without its limitations, its innovative approach to creating a shared virtual environment offers a glimpse into the future of video conferencing. As the technology continues to evolve, Together Mode has the potential to become an indispensable tool for fostering connection, engagement, and productivity in the remote workplace. Its overall effectiveness and value are contingent on continued development, addressing its current limitations, and ensuring accessibility for all users.
