Zoom has unveiled plans to add some new features for its video chat platform, aimed to help in the transition to a hybrid workforce.
Upgrades include live, multi-language transcription and translation for Zoom calls. The platform will use machine learning and natural language processing to transcribe the spoken language, and each participant will be able to translate it to their own language. The feature should be available by the end of the year.
According to Zoom, there will be 30 transcription and 12 translation options by the end of 2022.
In the meantime, Zoom Whiteboard will be added to permit remote and in-office employees to interact via a virtual whiteboard: Participants will be able to write on the digital whiteboard from either a desktop or a tablet.
The Zoom Rooms Smart Gallery will be updated to include individual video feeds of in-person participants. This gallery displays multiple camera feeds from in-person meetings to remote attendees.
Finally, Zoom announced it will implement a “hot-desking feature” to help employees reserve desks and other spaces in their offices with an interactive map.