Video Conferencing | Trends to watch out for in 2022

Be it a 9-5er, a solopreneur, or a business owner – everyone finds meetings to be a crucial, if tedious, part of their day. The shift to remote work may have changed how we visualize meetings, but some things remain constant: the need for co-location, clear communication, and conciseness to make sure the right information is conveyed to the right people.

Video conferencing applications have made it possible to get everyone on the same page regardless of their location. In other regards, however, there is still a lot of ground to cover. Reaching consensus over Zoom is a difficult task when network lags force conversations to a standstill. Microsoft Teams can facilitate communication between teams, but it cannot get them to bond organically the way a face-to-face meeting can. Video conferencing applications may have made our work-lives easier – and during the pandemic, kept them going against difficult odds – but they are not the perfect solution to global demand.

Needless to say, necessity is the mother of invention. Even as the metaverse buzz is motivating businesses to consider VR a viable way to work online, video conferencing applications across the board are incorporating a whole host of features to retain and grow their userbases.

Cross-platform integration

For years, tech goliaths like Apple maintained a near-complete absence of interoperability without losing customer interest. Their reasons ranged from security concerns to marketing directives, all of which culminated in highly insular brand communities.

However, the era of exclusive ecosystems is now over. Consumers are aware of their options and do not want to be constrained by brand diktats. Their motivation is simple – no single platform satisfies every specific need of an individual or organization and having a variety of tools to rely on increases workflow efficiency.

Video conferencing applications are on the path to embracing this philosophy, working towards cross-platform integration to make sure people can connect regardless of which software or device they primarily use. Interoperability can translate as a device-agnostic approach or a no-sign-in UI for visitors that let people hop into a meeting without wasting a single minute. In the coming year, these features will become the cornerstone of how people convene online, directly affecting the popularity of a product.

AI In Video Conferencing

Artificial Intelligence is changing the world as we know it. By tracking and analyzing data inputs from multiple sources, AI is primed to select the best course of action and streamline user experience in real time. This advantage is particularly useful for video conferencing applications, which are notoriously inept at addressing users’ communicational needs beyond the broadest strokes.

Innovations in object detection and language processing are being applied to AI technology, to great success. Even something as simple as manual camera adjustment will no longer be necessary; using facial detection technology, AI can automatically pan cameras to focus on the user. This capability will be especially useful in the case of large conferences, wherein AI will be able to track the active speaker and change camera angle accordingly.

AI-based software can also enable real-time language translation to bridge participants in a multi-lingual setting. This will result in greater immersion, which is crucial to engaging audiences. With the language barrier virtually removed, remote conferencing will become a viable networking medium for diverse organizations across the world.

Gamification

Removing snags and hitches isn’t enough – true engagement requires a genuine connection between users, facilitated through the medium in use. While video conferencing applications are useful for short discussions, longer meetings tend to result in fatigue and disinterest.

Through gamification, virtual meetings can be made a lot more fun for all involved; even simple interventions such as emojis in chat, customizable environments, and avatars in the UI can make the experience more engaging. These interventions can also help supplant the para-lingual cues that real-life conversations have, but video feeds cannot accommodate.

Keeping participants’ interests alive is crucial to the success of any virtual conference, especially ones scheduled with the intention to educate, train or strategize. Information loss due to low interest is a drain on company resources, and video conferencing applications will strive to close that gap in 2022 to remain viable in the market.

With the advent of the metaverse turning into a question of ‘when’ instead of ‘if’, it is clear that the tech sphere will be witnessing a lot of innovation as products compete for consumers’ attention. The niche of video conferencing, whose offerings remained largely unchanged for many years, is making up for lost time with rapid transformation; in tandem, many consumers are wising up to the video vs virtual distinction and opting for more immersive experiences. One thing is for certain – after the dramatic shifts of the last two years, 2022 is bringing with it a lot of optimism about the future of online communication.