Google is adding a bunch of new features to its Google Meet video chat service, including video backgrounds that can help make calls more fun and engaging (along with hiding a messy room that co-workers don't need to see). Picture background replacements were added to Google Meet last year, and video backgrounds are an evolution of it.
This past year has been the perfect opportunity for video chat platforms to shine, and since March 2020, there have been clear winners and losers in that race. Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams have all managed to find a strong audience throughout the pandemic, with other services like Skype being left to the wayside. These platforms have continued to add features and bug fixes to ensure the user experience is as seamless as possible, and that's been especially true on Google's part.
Since last March, Google has released countless Meet updates with the latest feature drop being announced on April 21, 2021. Starting next month, Google Meet is updating the way its presentation view is handled — allowing more video tiles to be displayed alongside the main speaker that's being presented. Users will also gain the ability to unpin something that's being presented, with Google even adding the ability to pin multiple speakers "in the coming months." Another welcome update is Light Adjustment, which will automatically increase the brightness of a user's video if they appear to be underexposed. On a more technical level, Google Meet is getting a Data Saver mode for its mobile app. While all of those add-ons are greatly appreciated, the most exciting thing is the addition of video backgrounds.
There Are Three Video Backgrounds Available At Launch
Custom backgrounds have become a pretty common feature for video chat apps. If someone wants to hide the background of the room they're in, they can set a custom background with an image of their choosing. Not only is it a nice privacy feature to have, but it's also a great way to liven up a call. In the coming weeks, Google Meet is expanding on this idea with video background replacement. As the name implies, this will allow Meet users to replace their background with a video.
At least at launch, video background replacement will be fairly limited. Google has announced three backgrounds that'll be available, including a classroom, a party, and a forest. Google says there are "more on the way soon," but that's all that's been confirmed so far. Even with that limitation in mind, this sounds like a fantastic update to Meet.
While users may not want to use video backgrounds in serious business meetings any time soon, this should be a perfect way to liven up virtual family get-togethers or weekend hangouts with friends. It'll be exciting to see what other options are added in the future, along with whether or not Google allows custom videos to be added as it does with image background replacements.
Source: Google