Video conferencing calls could be set up to be much friendlier thanks to a new feature in Microsoft’s Windows 10.
The computer giant has unveiled a new tool in its latest version of Windows 10 Insider Preview called “Eye Contact” that should make figuring out where to look to stay involved in calls easier than ever.
According to Microsoft, Eye Contact “helps adjust your gaze” in video calls, allowing you to appear to be making direct eye contact with others on your call.
Eye Contact works in any application that uses the front camera, which means that the Skype and Microsoft teams can fully use it. It should also work with non-Microsoft services like Zoom and Google Meet, making your video calls more immersive than ever.
The feature will only work in landscape mode, and Microsoft cautions that turning Eye Contact on drains your device’s battery a bit more.
However, the bad news is that, for the moment, Eye Contact will only work on the company’s Microsoft Surface Pro X, where it can be activated via the Surface app.
This device is chosen because it works with the company’s Microsoft SQ1 processor, which features built-in ARM-based artificial intelligence (AI) processing capabilities. Eye Contact works using this AI power to make it appear that the user’s eyes are looking directly into the camera, even if their gaze is focused elsewhere.
The news comes shortly after Microsoft Teams added a host of new features as it appears to stay ahead of the competition.
Recently, the company introduced a new version of the “personal life” application that seeks to alter the perception that teams are simply a work platform. Although it still lags behind market leader Zoom, Microsoft Teams still enjoys a healthy user base worldwide, and the company recently revealed that it has exceeded 75 million daily active users.
