Zoom Launches New Feature That Lets Users Connect it to Twitch

On Mar. 23, Zoom announced that it will allow its users to livestream their meetings to Twitch by adding an integration with the streaming service to the app.

After your Zoom and Twitch accounts are connected, you can start broadcasting your meeting with just a couple of clicks.

Zoom Can Now Be Connected to Twitch

Zoom stated that the new feature is meant to streamline the process of sharing content with groups. The platform wants people to use the feature for webinars that involves dozens of users.

There are a lot of cases that Zoom users can take advantage of the new feature. The feature is ideal for those who want to do a live podcast, share a screen for a webinar, or do a virtual town hall meeting.

The feature is not a reach for Zoom, as the platform supports streaming to other platforms like YouTube and Facebook and would let users to add a custom streaming service, so it means that users could have streamed to Twitch by adding their streaming URL and key, according to The Verge.

Users could have also set up OBS and used it to stream a meeting, but both of those options would have been more complicated than the new process It involves clicking on button to go live on Twitch and logging into the service.

Zoom's New Virtual Avatars

Aside from launching a feature that lets users connect to Twitch, Zoom also introduced a set of virtual avatars that allow you to show up as an animal, according to CNET.

The platform will let you choose if you want to be a rabbit, dog, fox, or another type of animal for your next meeting. The new avatars will replace you with a virtual character that copies your facial expressions.

The streaming platform said that the feature, which is included in the Zoom 5.10 update, will only let you become an animal at launch, but the new avatar options will be added in the next few months, according to Engadget.

Zoom sees this feature useful for a lot of different reasons. During its press release, the company mentioned that showing up with an avatar filter could bring fun to meetings and webinars, or it can help pediatricians become less intimidating to children.

There is also the idea that the feature could help solve Zoom fatigue. A study has indicated that constantly looking at yourself on the screen and constantly making sure that you are presentable can eventually become tiring.

If your Zoom box is showing an animal that is mirroring your facial expressions, that is more difficult to scrutinize than your actual face.

To turn on the feature, users need to click the ^ button that is located next to the Start/ Stop video button. Next, click Choose Video Filter so you can start picking the animal that you want to show up as from the avatars tab.

You can choose whether your avatar will be wearing a T-shirt or a hoodie. You can also choose to always apply the animal filter whenever you are in a meeting. You can also change your Zoom background to add more life to your screen.

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Sophie Webster