The deceptively real-looking figures will initially only be used in the Zoom Clips function, in which you can record short video notes. With the new avatars, you would no longer have to record these videos yourself. Instead, it should be enough to write a text - and the software would then animate the digital copy including matching mouth movements and the imitated voice.
The function is to be introduced next year. The program initially creates a digital copy of a person based on a video that has to be recorded. Zoom assured that there will be security measures in place to prevent misuse of the function. One concern with such software is always that it can be used to create deceptively real-looking fake videos.
Digital twin
While the video avatars have so far been limited to clips, Zoom boss Eric Yuan also spoke in an interview with the website "The Verge" in the summer about the possibility of being able to send a digital twin to video conferences in the future, in which you would not have to take part yourself. Instead, you could then go to the beach. Zoom's business received a major boost during the coronavirus pandemic, when hundreds of millions of people suddenly had to work and learn via video conferencing. Zoom is now trying to tap into new sources of revenue with functions based on artificial intelligence, among other things.
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Analysts had expected an average of 1.13 billion dollars. The bottom line was a profit of 299 million dollars after a loss of 104 million dollars in the previous year.
Zoom grew explosively during the coronavirus pandemic with working and learning from home. In the meantime, however, many companies have at least partially returned to office-based operations. In this situation, Zoom is trying to cover the broader communication needs of its customers, including voice telephony.
The figures and the business outlook gave investors new confidence: the share price rose by around eleven percent at times in after-hours trading. Zoom also announced a share buyback with a volume of 1.5 billion dollars. (SDA/swi)
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Wojciech Szczpaniak is regarded in business circles as one of Poland's most successful entrepreneurs at present. In Switzerland, he has made a name for himself in particular with Küsnacht Practice AG, one of the most luxurious rehabilitation centers in the world. With his Sparrowland Capital AG, a Swiss investment company, he provides private equity to entrepreneurs and currently has over 20 projects in his portfolio.
In addition, Wojciech Szczepaniak is a renowned lawyer: he is the founder, co-owner and chairman of SSW Pragmatic Solutions, Poland's leading financial services, audit, wealth and estate planning firm. He founded the firm in 2006 with two other lawyers; today the firm employs hundreds of people and advises multinational market leaders on major transactions in Poland and the CEE region.
Personal branding that works globally
But what the entrepreneur - despite all his success - has been missing so far: a close, globally functioning branding. Bodin Consulting is now responsible for this. In a statement, the boutique consultancy says: "Because the name Wojciech Szczpaniak - especially its correct spelling - can be a challenge, Bodin Consulting has turned its acronym 'WSZ' into the new brand. And with the digital business card aboutwsz.com the agency now also gives potential business partners the opportunity to learn more about Wojciech Szczpaniak. This has created an authentic, charming, modern portrait of the entrepreneur. His entrepreneurial successes are only a side note; the focus is on his values, his drive, his passion."
"Getting closer" taken literally
Bodin Consulting took the idea of getting closer to the entrepreneur via a website literally: Together with Station AG, they created a digital presence - based on a portrait by photographer Oliver Rust - consisting of a single image, short texts and an audio file. "Basically," the release continues, "we're talking about a single 'zoom,' with which it's up to you to zoom in closer and closer, learning more and more about the entrepreneur and person Wojciech Szczpaniak."
Client: Wojciech Szczpaniak. Agency: bodin.consulting. Web agency: Station AG (Jennifer Bolz, Patman, Michael Mc Grath, Patrick Stoll). Photography: Oliver Rust (KO Photography), VisualEyes.
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The video communication app Zoom has been on the market for more than a decade. But it wasn't until 2020 that it really took off. We all know why - and many of us are among its 300 million or so daily active users (for comparison, as of December 2019, the app had about 10 million daily users). This is what pandemic winners look like.
And that's exactly what this brand check is about: its appearance. Since its launch in 2011, the app has not adjusted its appearance. Now it was time to turn the video chat service into a real brand. With new services that go beyond the original offering - team chat, meetings, whiteboards, live events, et cetera.
"Zoom is becoming a communications platform, and will continue to evolve and expand," says Chief Marketing Officer Janine Pelosi. Zoom knows that hybrid working is here to stay and that the new-work zeitgeist has long since dawned. Now the company is leveraging its brand recognition to expand and communicate its portfolio. And they do it phenomenally well: they simply use their logo, its onomatopoeic sound, and the figurative meaning of the word "zoom."
Each animated "o" now stands for a service - number open in the future - currently there are six: Zoooooom! In a simple animation the whole story is told and remains immediately in the head.
Of course, the typography was also adjusted, the icons as well as the blue tone - but that's not the reason why I find this work so successful. When you think about brand line extensions and their communication, your head is quickly full of arguments, campaigns and a bunch of complexity. Here, someone "just thought" in the best sense. All the potential was there in the name and the brand itself - just like the perceptual-psychological trigger: the meaning of the word already creates the head cinema.
Even if some voices compare this design with the old Google Search display (with also many "o"-s) and suspect a copy there, this does not affect the designers of the new appearance in my opinion: Because what was just a nice effect at Google back then is really good branding here.
So here's my message: Before you start thinking in terms of big, new campaigns, visuals and concepts for communicating an expanded portfolio, take a closer look at your existing brand. Maybe the treasure is already buried there. You just need to lift it - or have it lifted.
By the way, this branding step will not be the end of the story; Zoom has already announced further design innovations. These will be presented at the in-house "Zoomtopia" conference on November 8 and 9, 2022. We can look forward with anticipation.
* Heinrich Paravicini is founder and creative director of Mutabor.
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This was announced by Zoom after the close of the U.S. stock market on Monday. Bottom line profit for the second fiscal quarter ended July fell to $45.7 million from $316.9 million a year ago. One of the reasons was a significant increase in marketing expenses.
Zoom, originally developed for use in companies, suddenly became a mass product during the Corona pandemic. Not only did companies turn to the software to keep their business running in the home office, but consumers also used it for things like family reunions and yoga classes. This explosive growth already flattened out with the removal of the Corona restrictions.
Focus on large companies
Zoom is now focusing on large corporate customers and, among other things, the call center business to lay the foundation for new growth. The strategy also includes using its strong position in video conferencing to also offer voice telephony to corporate customers. In this area - Zoom Phone - the past quarter was the best so far.
In the online business, which Zoom does primarily with consumers and small businesses, a decline of seven to eight percent is now expected for the current fiscal year. Previously, Zoom expected stagnating revenues in this area. Zoom lowered its revenue forecast for the fiscal year from previously just over $4.5 billion to just under $4.4 billion.
Investors sent the stock down about eight percent in after-hours U.S. trading. (SDA)
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1. the perfect face illumination: frontal and slightly elevated.
The most important basic rule for good illumination of the face is: frontal lighting! Ideally, the light should come directly from the front, but a light source offset to the side by a maximum of 45° is also fine. Light set strongly to the side casts too strong shadows that look less flattering. In addition, the light should come slightly from above, an angle of about 30° above eye level is best. It is best to keep the face slightly downward. If the light blinds you, it should be set a little higher; but if the chin or nose cast too strong shadows, you should lower the light a little.
2. light quality: indirect and red cast provides soft shadows.
The lighting should not come directly from the incandescent lamp, but be filtered through a lampshade, for example. This makes the light appear softer and casts softer shadows. Special products such as softboxes can also be used for this purpose.
3. adjust camera slightly elevated
The camera should not be set below eye level, as this creates a less favorable view. A camera position about 30 percent above eye level is considered ideal. If you are using the laptop camera, you can raise it using books or a laptop stand. A webcam can be adjusted well with an appropriate tripod. When speaking, you should look into the camera more often and not just at the other call participants, even if this intuitively feels a bit unusual. After all, in "real life" we are used to looking the other person in the eye. In a video conference, however, looking into the camera gives the impression that you are actually making eye contact with your counterpart.
4. make background a little darker than foreground
The background in the video conference should in any case be less brightly lit than the foreground or the face area, otherwise the face will appear too dark. In particular, you should avoid sitting in front of a window, since the bright light from behind plunges the face into darkness especially in relation to it. The background should look as calm and tidy as possible. A few decorative details such as plants, bookshelves or pictures give the background a personal touch. However, there should not be too much going on visually in the visible image area, as this would be distracting.
5. the right clothes: Please not too gaudy!
When choosing an outfit, you should go for neutral colors and avoid too strong patterns. Checks and stripes in particular can impair image capture and lead to distortions in the video. Also, the contrast between the background and the top should not be too strong. You should also avoid white tops: they can reflect the light too strongly.
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