Microsoft’s annual Ignite conference came and went just like that. As always, the event left viewers tuned in to witness the latest product updates and the next big innovations in technology. The attention-grabbing news that caught everyone’s eye is Microsoft’s entry into the metaverse with Teams. This news isn’t surprising, considering we already witnessed the use of avatars in the metaverse when Microsoft Mesh was announced earlier this year.

Another noteworthy announcement in the realm of Mixed Reality was the introduction of two new features for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Guides. The first feature introduces a new touch activity menu, while the second, currently available only in preview mode, is 1:1 calling. These additions enhance the user experience for both Guides authors and operators, fostering better collaboration.

Touch Activity

Menu The new touch activity menu brings a fresh user interface and experience to all users. A common challenge Guides users faced was inadvertently launching the HoloLens menu button due to certain movements. The redesigned touch activity menu addresses this issue by leveraging the HoloLens’ advantage of eye tracking. Now, the menu bar will only appear when users’ eyes are directed at their hands.

Within the Touch Activity Menu bar, four buttons are present: Guides application, 1:1 calling, settings, and home. Upon launching the Guides application, users will notice a file/guide management folder resembling a computer’s file explorer. This enhances the organization of Guides, akin to traditional computer systems. Different permission levels prevent the selection of the wrong Guide from a different department or experience level. Next, let’s delve into the new 1:1 calling button. The remaining buttons are the standard settings and home options.

1:1 Calling

1:1 calling introduces a new dimension to Guides, contributing to improved company performance through collaboration. Prior to this addition, Guides users only had the option to initiate a Remote Assist call, which persisted in the background. However, this was a somewhat makeshift solution. The only functions retained were the Guides users’ field of view and the call function via Remote Assist. The new 1:1 calling resembles a Remote Assist Call. Guides users can now see subject matter experts within their field of view and collaborate in real time. Similar to Remote Assist, this new feature has a variety of applications including support calls with subject matter experts for questions, remote inspections, collaborative authoring, and Guides walkthroughs.