Microsoft Mesh and Meta. Why they are important?

January has been a whirlwind month for the VR and AR sector, marked by significant developments that are shaping the industry's future.

Apple kicked off the year with a splash, selling 180,000 units of its Vision Pro VR headsets within the first weekend. Not to be outdone, Meta announced a new partnership with Microsoft, highlighted by the launch of the Meta 3 headset. This collaboration is poised to revolutionise how businesses and educational institutions interact with virtual environments.

Simultaneously, Microsoft introduced Mesh, a platform designed to create customised 3D environments for educational and corporate applications. Microsoft Mesh, integrated with Teams, is set to redefine live events and immersive spaces, making virtual interactions more dynamic and engaging. In a related development, Meta Work made waves as its largest customer, Accenture, acquired 65,000 Meta Quest headsets to boost their VR capabilities.

ines, with its largest customer, Accenture, acquiring 65,000 Meta Quest headsets to enhance their VR capabilities.

Amidst this flurry of activity, the Goldman Sachs report offers insight into the burgeoning software market for these devices, underscoring the growing attention and investment in this space. The synergy between Meta’s and Microsoft’s AI partnership, coupled with innovations like Llama 2, Microsoft Teams integration, and Azure-powered solutions, is poised to drive significant advancements in how we work and learn in virtual settings.

What does Microsoft Mesh do?

Microsoft Mesh is an innovative tool that enables users to connect and collaborate within immersive 3D environments. By integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Teams, Mesh allows participants to join virtual meetings and events through a variety of platforms, including a PC or a Meta headset. This flexibility makes it easier for Teams users to engage in more dynamic and interactive experiences, whether they are working remotely or in a hybrid setting.

With Microsoft Mesh, users can interact in immersive spaces that go beyond traditional video conferencing, fostering deeper connections and collaboration. This technology is particularly impactful in Microsoft Mesh town halls, where large-scale virtual gatherings can be held, offering an experience that is both engaging and productive. The integration of Mesh into Teams Premium further enhances these experiences by offering advanced features and capabilities that cater to complex organisational needs.

Additionally, Microsoft is committed to providing comprehensive end-user training for Teams users, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate and leverage these new immersive tools. As businesses continue to evolve in the post-pandemic landscape, Microsoft Mesh is playing a crucial role in redefining how teams connect, collaborate, and engage in the virtual workspace.

When did Microsoft announce mesh?

Microsoft Mesh was first announced at Microsoft's Ignite conference in 2021, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of virtual collaboration. Designed to enhance how people connect and interact in digital environments, Microsoft Mesh allows users to meet, share, and work together in 3D spaces. This innovative technology integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams, enabling a new level of engagement through immersive virtual event experiences.

One of the standout applications of Microsoft Mesh is in hosting large-scale events such as Microsoft Mesh town halls. These wide-reaching internal events can be transformed into highly interactive and engaging experiences, offering custom environments tailored to the needs of each organisation. By leveraging Mesh, companies can create bespoke town hall experiences that captivate attendees and foster greater connection among participants, regardless of their physical location.

In addition to enhancing the town hall experience, Microsoft Mesh also streamlines end-user training by providing more immersive and interactive learning environments. This is particularly beneficial for Teams users, as they can receive hands-on training in a virtual space that mirrors real-world scenarios, improving retention and understanding.

Overall, the introduction of Microsoft Mesh is revolutionising how businesses conduct internal events and town halls, focusing on attendee engagement and delivering custom experiences that meet the unique needs of each organization.

Helping staff in a hybrid setting

The post-COVID workplace has introduced new challenges, particularly with the rise of hybrid working models. Employee engagement has become a pressing issue, influenced by various factors. Productivity in advanced economies has stagnated, and millions of trained employees have exited the workforce in the wake of the pandemic.

This evolving landscape underscores the need for innovative solutions to address these challenges. Here is where the the Microsoft partnership with Meta Work comes in, which is reshaping the future of work through its integration of Meta Quest headsets and Microsoft's suite of tools. By leveraging Microsoft's Azure and Windows platforms, this partnership aims to enhance employee engagement and productivity in the hybrid work environment.

So, why are companies increasingly turning to immersive 3D solutions to connect with employees?

Deloitte’s Global Human Capital Trends report has highlighted significant shifts in the workplace over the past 14 years through its annual Global Survey of workplace leaders. As the nature of work evolves, the need for innovative tools to foster engagement and productivity has become more pressing.

The Microsoft partnership with Meta Work is a prime example of this trend. By integrating Meta Quest devices with Microsoft’s Azure and Windows platforms, alongside tools like Microsoft Teams and advancements such as Llama, this collaboration is set to revolutionise how businesses interact with their workforce. The Meta partnership is paving the way for immersive experiences within the metaverse, providing new avenues for employee engagement and collaboration in an increasingly hybrid work environment. 

  https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends/2023.html#read-the-introduction

The report highlights three major trends:

1. Navigating the End of Jobs: Traditional fixed work roles are becoming obsolete as businesses shift towards a model where skill levels and adaptability are vital. This trend emphasises the importance of deploying employees flexibly across various tasks and projects.

2. Powering Human Input with Technology: The integration of AI and the metaverse is bringing new tools that enhance employee productivity. Innovations like Microsoft's AI models are providing companies with cutting-edge solutions to boost output and efficiency.

3. Activating the Future Workplace: With the capabilities of the metaverse, such as those showcased at Meta Connect, teams, you can now co-create without being in the same physical space. This shift signifies a move towards a more digital and collaborative work environment, diminishing the need for a traditional office setup. The integration of platforms like Microsoft Teams and Azure further supports this transformation, enabling seamless communication and collaboration in the future workplace.

The insights from this report signal why the Assisted Reality and Augmented Reality space is exploding in three different areas:

• The Hardware and its ability to share the real world and a digital overlay of critical information is:-

  • Transforming productivity levels, reducing error rates and delivering powerful instant returns on investment that business leader looking for advancement, cannot ignore.

The Software, with Mesh arriving from Microsoft signals the move from 2D print / screens to 3D as a way to understand and interact with information and colleagues.

• Mesh gives companies a platform to create 3D corporate workplaces for everything from Town Halls, to Induction centres, Corporate Information zones and thus will cut the time humans will take to absorb understand and create. Again a boost to output and engagement.

To avoid expensive mistakes, organisations need to select the right combinations of hardware and software that will effectively tap into their talent pool and increase engagement. Partnerships with key industries, such as Microsoft and Meta, are essential for this strategy. By leveraging Microsoft's Azure and Windows platforms, alongside Meta's Quest Pro and Llama technologies, businesses can create integrated solutions that drive the future of VR.

Events like Microsoft Inspire and collaborations with Meta partners provide valuable insights and opportunities to explore innovative apps and tools that maximise employee potential and enhance the workplace experience.

How does Microsoft use Metaverse?  

Microsoft leverages the Metaverse by integrating technologies such as IoT, AI, digital twins, and mixed reality to create immersive, interactive experiences through the Microsoft Cloud. The industrial metaverse harnesses data from an organisation's information technology (IT), operational technology (OT), and engineering technology (ET) systems, enabling businesses to optimise operations and enhance decision-making.

With the integration of Meta's technologies, such as Llama and Meta Quest, developers and enterprises have access to powerful tools that drive innovation. Windows and Azure provide a robust foundation for deploying apps and solutions, offering creators and developers a wide choice of Azure services to build and customise their applications. This strategic approach empowers organisations to transform their operations and engage in new, efficient ways.

Below is a short video on Mesh and Teams allowing users to select an immersive experience for teams and join via a headset, such as Meta Quest 3, into a Mesh enabled meeting. 

Mesh enables small shards of virtual space for up to four groups of 16 participants to co-create, meet, or learn collaboratively. By leveraging Microsoft's Azure platform and Windows infrastructure, along with Meta's Quest for Business and Llama technologies, this innovative solution provides developers and enterprises with new ways to enhance collaboration and learning.

With a variety of apps and tools available, companies can tailor their virtual environments to meet specific needs, offering greater flexibility and choice. The collaboration between Microsoft and Meta, supported by their extensive partner networks, is making significant news in the industry, showcasing how cutting-edge technologies are transforming the future of work.

However we believe at Expand Reality in taking that further enabling you to:

• Join from any video enabled device a Teams Mesh meeting 

• But also to tailor the Mesh environments for organisations for:

  • Town hall meetings 

  • Induction spaces 

  • Training spaces 

• Design Spaces

What is a Microsoft town hall meeting?

A Microsoft Mesh town hall meeting is a large-scale virtual event hosted in Microsoft Teams, leveraging Microsoft Mesh to create immersive, interactive experiences. These events enable one-to-many communication and advanced production capabilities, making them ideal for town halls, live events, and other virtual gatherings. Microsoft Mesh enhances Teams town halls by providing immersive spaces and virtual environments that allow participants to engage in real-time collaboration. With the public preview of these tools, organisations can now host dynamic and engaging virtual events using the combined power of Microsoft Mesh and Microsoft Teams.

We believe in a 5 step process to match the hardware and software which is explained in this simple infographic.

If you want to chat though these steps in person or book a test drive click below on the Fireside chat option.

If you want to chat though these steps in person or book a test drive of the Meta Quest 3, Click below on the Fireside chat option.