New Microsoft tool allows commenting within live-streaming videos

By Richard Humphreys on 07 August 2018

New Microsoft tool allows commenting within live-streaming videos

Microsoft has added a new live-streaming video tool to Microsoft 365 to enable company CEOs to host presentations and answer real-time questions from employees based anywhere in the world.

Senior management can create high-definition live events in Microsoft Stream, Teams or Yammer, and invite employees to watch or join in via mobile or desktop devices.

“Today, executives at Microsoft – including CEO Satya Nadella – use Microsoft 365 to connect and communicate with employees around the globe,” said Lori Wright, general manager for Microsoft Teams and Skype. “Now, any company or organisation with Microsoft 365 can create these moments of high engagement, where people are focused on leaders and their messages and ask questions to clarify or reinforce conversations in the community.”

The comment section allows viewers to ask questions, raise concerns, or suggest ideas, and the host of the event can respond in real-time. All messages are automatically translated into specified languages using artificial intelligence.

“More than ever before, employees in the modern workplace seek work environments that unlock creativity, make their lives more productive and fulfilling, and foster a sense of connection with their organisation’s mission and purpose,” said Wright.

Companies can record the live events and upload them to internal websites, so employees can watch them at a later date. The video can also be transcribed, while a speaker timeline uses facial detection to identify who is talking, so viewers can easily jump to a specific section of the recording. Yammer also tracks the number of views and likes a video has.

“A critical first step for your organisation to thrive in this new culture of work is to drive alignment of your people around shared purpose and goals,” said Wright. “Leaders realise that organisations who do this well have an advantage in attracting and retaining an engaged workforce.”

Microsoft has launched a preview of the new tool, which will become generally available in late 2018 following the introduction of new features and functionality.