Page 50 - EngineerIT October 2022

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

Cisco tackles video-meeting fatigue with a

host of technology innovations to empower

the hybrid working model

recent study focused on
executives and knowledge
pr
A ofessionals, commissioned
by Cisco and conducted by
Dimensional Research, showed that
more than half (56%) of employees
spend most of their time in meetings
when working remotely, with 33%
saying that it takes up half of their
work day. This has resulted in 95%
of employees experiencing video
meeting fatigue.
The overall fatigue is attributed
mainly to technological issues,
which comprise background noise,
poor sound and video quality. These
elements have actively contributed
to physical ailments with 81% of
employees reporting headaches, best technology is also the most intuitive, which is why our Webex platform is using new
neck and shoulder strains and eye technology-enabled solutions to constantly improve and reduce fatigue and stress.”
strain over time. In the long run, this Cisco has been tackling these pain points with its Webex platform, which is
has also made employees consider continuously innovating to limit video-meeting fatigue by introducing targeted
leaving their current employers, solutions and software.
with 42% planning on making the Cisco’s Webex platform now uses artificial intelligence (AI) to translate people’s
move within two years, citing video- natural and non-verbal gestures into animated images, allowing users to make simple
meeting habits. actions like raising hands or giving a thumbs up without clicking a button. Accessibility
Commenting on the findings of is also taken into consideration, with Webex featuring real-time closed caption
the report, Ahmad Zureiki, head of and translation capabilities in over 100 languages, tackling auditory and language
collaboration business, Cisco MEA, challenges in meetings.
said: “The modern work environment The platform has also integrated new options to improve the experience for
is not confined to a single space or every employee. This includes new polling and Q&A tools for feedback and questions
device anymore. It’s flexible, it’s anonymously, as well as personal insights, which gives every employee an easy
mobile, it’s hybrid. Business leaders method to assess how they spend their work hours.
in today’s world know that their Cisco Webex also uses devices such as Webex Desk, Webex Desk Mini and Room
employees are their #1 asset, and Bar solutions, with dedicated software to reduce stressors commonly seen during
that means finding ways to both extended meetings. This includes advanced noise cancellation features to filter out
accommodate employee priorities distracting noises from the environment, especially during calls in shared spaces or a
and reimagine the workplace to home office. The cognitive Webex devices also provide dynamic framing which allows
improve remote work.” people to get up and stretch their legs while remaining on screen. The cameras in
He added: “With the hybrid these devices also enhance the view of the conference rooms for remote participants
working model becoming the new by automatically detecting them and providing individual streams, ensuring everyone
normal, we had to create new is equally present on the screen and allowing participants to understand what every
techniques where employees are not attendee is saying.
overworked or drained at the end of
each workday. We believe that the The full report can be downloaded here.

EngineerIT | October 2022 | 48