Microsoft’s ‘Metaverse’ to Transform Online Learning

Beginning in 2022, Microsoft Teams users will soon be able to meet in the “metaverse.”

Microsoft Mesh is a mixed reality platform where students, faculty and staff will be able to interact through lifelike 3D avatars. Mesh is an Azure-based cloud platform that builds collaborative mixed reality apps for users across multiple devices.

Students with Microsoft HoloLens smart glasses can interact in the immersive classroom, and those without virtual reality headsets or glasses can still see avatars through the traditional Teams video meeting grid.

Microsoft is also partnering with Facebook (now known as Meta) to incorporate Teams into Mark Zuckerberg’s Workplace platform. Meta is currently targeting the education sector as well with plans to build its own metaverse. Meanwhile, Cisco has also launched a pilot program for Webex Hologram, an augmented reality meeting space.