Writer: Nuttawut Kulkaew

Editor: Wittaya Wonglor

Turning on the camera in an online meeting during WFH can be a big problem for many of us.

We might feel uncomfortable about our dress or location, even if the camera helps us understand each other.

“Zoom fatigue” is an issue for long online meetings. A recent survey found that 49% of employees are tired of having to turn on their cameras throughout meetings. So could an avatar display our expressions and gestures instead?

Photographic avatars are avatars with AI to simulate your face for a virtual space. You will be able to express yourself without showing your real face. This will preserve privacy but also open opportunities to develop relationships during a time when we meet online and work from home.

In July 2021, Snapchat introduced the Bitmoji, or 3D avatar, for us to create our own emoji-like avatars with facial expressions and body language. Taverse is also interested in this owner-like avatar. Microsoft Teams is creating a 3D-like avatar. Meta is working on developing this technology with virtual reality (VR).

Implications for the future:

- Avatars will have 2 aspects: like us or a creative fantasy. Choosing an appropriate avatar will be etiquette in the metaverse like selecting an outfit. Users may need to have separate avatars for professional meetings and social occasions.

- Governments and platform owners need to discuss preserving the privacy of the avatar models' data and personal identities because cybercriminals can exploit such biodata for harmful purposes.

Reference:

- https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/mesh

- https://news.microsoft.com/inno.../mesh-for-microsoft-teams/

- https://www.xrtoday.com/.../why-are-photographic-avatars.../

- https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2021.668499

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