Meetings, many are dragging their feet. So in the metaverse… However, the tech giants are determined to democratize professional meetings by interposing avatars.
Last week, Facebook announced a partnership with Microsoft to enable Teams meetings to take place in Mark Zuckerberg’s metaverse. The Facebook boss also clings to that virtual world that he now boasts to professionals.
So who to make management committees with a virtual reality headset?
At first glance, not many people. However, human resources specialists seem quite enthusiastic about the idea.
Eliminate classic codes
The teams and consorts (Zoom, WhatsApp, etc.) have already paved the way and made working conditions more flexible by promoting teleworking.
“For companies, it is a tool where people can come together in one place,” explains Caroline Diard, professor and researcher in human resource management at ESC Amiens. The interest for professionals of a connection from a multitude of devices is also advancing: a computer, a smartphone or a tablet.
But what else can Teams VR meetings bring to the metaverse? Unlike traditional video conferences, the problem is at the level of employee representation. Through an avatar, issues of shyness, mirror image or dress code no longer have to be.
Similarly, during a Teams job interview in VR, candidates have no age, no color, and no gender. “In a virtual world, everyone is beautiful,” jokes Caroline Diard, who highlights the possible end of discrimination.
Still, hurdles still need to be overcome to democratize meeting in the metaverse. Why so ridiculous? Above all because of “the transposition of the world of video games to the world of work”, highlights Caroline Diard. “Being represented through an avatar is exactly what The Sims is all about.”
Therefore, the specialist anticipates a period of acculturation to fully appreciate the dynamism, coexistence and playful aspect that the metaverse represents. However, this is already what employees have done with telecommuting. “Today, it is integrated. People have appropriated the tools”, observes the teacher-researcher. She also points to a favorable period for the rapprochement of Microsoft and Meta.
Regulatory adaptations are expected
But the human resources expert warns that these developments must be followed by regulatory adaptations. Among other things, he points to risks to personal data, but above all identity theft.
Among the other risks posed by the expert -and already mentioned with teleworking- is the exhaustion of employees and their right to disconnect. The use of teleworking has generated cases of hyperconnectivity in which companies have had to prevent access to applications outside certain time slots.
The CNIL should address these issues. Just as she had during the first birth. The National Commission for Informatics and Liberties had taken on the obligation to turn on its webcam during videoconferences. The arrival of avatars and virtual workspaces promises new uncertainties that will have to be decided.
Source: BFM TV
