The uncanny valley is something that no one wants to live in. It’s the belief that digital representations will always feel strange off, regardless of how real they may seem.
Yet, we’re in 2021 and the sixth-largest global company is trying to encourage its users to spend more time at the uncanny valley.
The new service, Horizon Workrooms, was described by Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook. “A virtual reality app that allows you and your coworkers to feel like you are sitting at a table in an office conference room.”
Translation: Virtual reality headsets will be worn by users to give the illusion that they are sitting next to their colleagues or their cartoon-like avatars.
This adds to Facebook’s ever-expanding product lineup, which already includes messaging, social media, eCommerce, and digital marketing. Maybe it’s a coincidence that the Federal Trade Commission refiled its antitrust lawsuit against Facebook the same morning as the VR announcement. Maybe not.
Despite the general public indifference to virtual reality, it has gained some modest traction in a few niches, including video gaming and with the military for training. VR feels like something from a past era. It doesn’t feel nostalgic or analog-like vinyl records.
Using VR in business meetings is still a comforting option. The shiny thing in tech is always about the possibility of a better future. This announcement is impressive in its acceptance of the reality of life. It shows that far-out technology can be applied to everyday situations.
Is VR the best way for business meetings to be more manageable? There are already Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Slack. We also have Slack, Google Hangouts, and Apple’s FaceTime. Telegram, Facebook’s WhatsApp, Telegram, and Telegram. Not to mention the many other niche collaboration programs that have sprung up over the past few years.
All of the above are easy to install. Many of these apps are either free or offer free tiers. You can also see the subtleties of your coworker during meetings using the video apps – information that is impossible to duplicate with an avatar.
Gracia is graduated from a reputed university in London. She is a senior content writer at TechieGuard, where she covers media and advertising and co-hosts the Original Content podcast.
