Google introduced new features for Meet last year meant for education customers, including the ability to virtually raise a hand during a call. The feature, however, was less noticeable especially when you viewed it on the video tile.
That"s changing today with a bunch of new updates Google announced for Meet. The latest announcement introduces a fresh animation for hand raise, notification sound, and more.
Google has changed the design of the feature"s visual icon with a new animation that makes it more visible on the video tile. The new animation shows up in the bottom-left corner of a video frame with a waving hand. It then expands to show the participant"s full name.
Hosts can also move the tiles of participants with raised hands so they can take a more prominent place in the video grid. In addition, there"s a new "audio notification for all participants when the first raised hand is raised" and another notification that shows how many raised hands are there, with a link to a list of hand raises in a particular order. After speaking, a participant"s virtual hand will then be lowered.
Google says these features are turned on by default. The changes will be available starting today to hosts with Workspace Essentials, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Nonprofit, and G Suite Business accounts.