Video teleconferencing company Zoom recently announced that it will be adding new a feature that allows users to add pronouns to their profile names. The aim is to enable users to better express their gender. The feature is part of Zoom 5.7.0 update and it comes to Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
By default, pronouns will be visible for users on the free Basic Zoom plan as well as for accounts with a single licensed user. In the profile settings, there are options to ‘always share’, ‘never share’, or to ask during every meeting before displaying.
Here are all the other important features added for Zoom chats, meetings and webinars:
Support for gender pronouns: If enabled by account admins and added to their profile by either the user directly or through SAML mapping, a user’s gender pronouns are displayed in their contact card and as part of their display name in meetings and webinars.
Scheduling privilege and alternative host between linked master/sub accounts: Users can add alternative hosts and assign scheduling privileges to other users who are in the same organization, now including users in sub-accounts and the master account. Account owners and admins must link the master/sub account in IM settings to see this account-level setting.
Authentication profile enhancement: Configured at the account, group, and user-level settings, users authenticated with a specific domain are blocked from joining meetings and webinars hosted by this account.
Consistent date formatting: Date formatting for chats, meetings, and call logs are adjusted to align with date formatting used in other desktop and mobile versions.
Custom video filters: Account admins can upload custom frame or foreground stickers for users on their account to use. Images must be in either PNG or JPG file format and can be up to 1MB in size.
Request Live Transcription enablement as participant: Meeting participants and webinar attendees can request the host enable Live Transcription, avoiding interrupting the host to request this verbally or through chat. This can be also requested anonymously.
Pairing with Zoom Rooms on Zoom desktop client: Users can pair their desktop client with their Zoom Rooms or Zoom for Home device. When a meeting is started on the desktop client, users can choose to start the meeting on the paired device.
NDI live streaming consent: Participants are notified when live streaming through an NDI device begins, providing them the option to consent or leave the meeting.
Hide full transcript panel: When enabled through web settings, the side-panel that displays the full transcript of Closed Captioning or Live Transcription is disabled. Captioning is only visible in the video window of the meeting or webinar.
Secure share with window filtering: Found in the Advanced section of the Screen Share settings, this additional screen capture mode prevents background information, such as windows seen when minimizing a window and maximizing another, from being unintentionally shared. This will only share the content of the window.
Ask to confirm leaving a meeting support for mobile: The mobile app includes the Ask to confirm when leaving a meeting option. This functions the same as it does on the desktop client.
Information Barrier enhancement: Breakout Rooms can be used when the Information Barrier feature is enabled, allowing use of breakout sessions while preventing unauthorized sensitive data from being shared.
Share screen to all Breakout Rooms: When sharing screen in the main session, the host or co-host can share their screen to all active Breakout Rooms. Any active sharing in the breakout sessions are interrupted and any annotation or whiteboarding prompts the sharer to save them before viewing the shared screen from the host.
Improvements to chat sidebar: Separate sections for starred messages/contacts, single- and multi-user chats, and named channels, quick access icons for @me mentions, bookmarked messages, files, and contact requests, and changing the icon for named channels to #. Lastly, starred messages will now be referred to as bookmarked messages, to differentiate from starred contacts and channels.
Display additional phone numbers in user contact card: Users who have multiple numbers associated with their profile (work number, personal number, etc) will have these additional numbers shown on their contact card, and when clicked upon, will initiate a call to that number.
Enhancements to invite by phone: Users can use search through their directory of users when inviting participants by phone. They can also enable options to play greeting before the call is connected and require the participant to press 1 before begin connected. Users with Zoom Phone can change their caller ID before inviting by phone.
Check connection to Zoom Phone server: Users can access Statistics settings to check their connection to the Zoom Phone server to troubleshoot connectivity issues.
Enhancement to call logs: If a call queue member makes a call using the call queue’s direct phone number, the associated call log entry will show the call queue’s direct phone number. Previously, call logs only displayed the member’s direct phone number.
