Facebook just released a new app called Horizon Workrooms in an effort to try to pull in workplace users with the new virtual-reality meetings app. Workrooms is Facebook’s flagship collaboration experience that lets people come together to work in the same virtual room, regardless of physical distance. It works across both virtual reality and the web and is designed to improve your team’s ability to collaborate, communicate, and connect remotely, through the power of VR— whether that’s getting together to brainstorm or whiteboard an idea, work on a document, hear updates from your team, hang out and socialize, or simply have better conversations that flow more naturally.
Workrooms is not limited only to users with VR headsets, but also for people without the headsets. Users can also dial in to a room from their computer by video call and they can invite guests to dial in too, just by sharing a meeting link. Video participants will show up on a video screen in the virtual room, just like a real conference room. The app supports up to 16 people in VR together, and up to 50 people total on a call, including video participants.
Workrooms is one of Facebook’s first experiences that was designed from the start to use hands, instead of controllers, as a primary input. This helps to create a more natural and expressive social experience and lets users switch more easily between physical tools like the keyboard and controllers when needed.
The Workrooms web app, offered in countries where Facebook is available, makes it easier to collaborate whether users are in VR or at your computer. Every room in Workrooms comes with a place on the web to capture notes and action items while in a meeting, share links and files, and chat with teams.
