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Subscription failed Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Jan 4, 2021 - Technology 2021 will demand new kinds of video conferencing Ina Fried, author of Login Photo illustration: Aida Amer/Axios. Photo: GraphicaArtis/Getty Images Last year entrenched videoconferencing at the center of our work and private lives -- but also showed us the limits and drawbacks of the tools we now depend on. What's happening: Services like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and WebEx were a lifeline in 2020, channeling everything from work and school to parties and doctor's appointments into our homebound lives. * The more we got to know these tools, however, the more we could see that putting a bunch of kids on Zoom sure doesn't make it a party. For every conceivable use of videoconferencing, there's a need for more nuanced and specialized software to deliver more enjoyable, less fatiguing experiences. As we head into another year likely to be filled with online substitutes for in-person gatherings, most of us are still using the same basic software for K-12 school, religious services, family gatherings, work meetings and book clubs. * It doesn't have to be that way. * Imagine, for example, an app built for birthday parties that offered kids some interactive fun -- anything from a digital version of pin-the-tail-on-the-donkey to built-in-access to Super Mario or Minecraft. One can easily envision adult-themed possibilities as well. Where it stands: The space has already seen some innovation, with Zoom adding much-needed security features and Microsoft Teams experimenting with a "together mode" -- including venues like virtual coffee shops and lecture halls to give different types of gatherings a more appropriate digital space. * Cisco has started to offer custom versions of its WebEx software, including one designed for parliaments and state legislatures trying to conduct government business online. * Meanwhile, startups are also taking note. Mmhmm is among those offering tools to people who want to customize video meetings with more than just fun virtual backgrounds. * Other startups, including Spatial, are trying to use VR to make digital gatherings more immersive, though doing so takes away one of the few benefits of virtual meetings -- being able to easily multitask. Yes, but: Much is still lacking in these offerings -- especially the ability to capture the whimsy, serendipity and intimacy of in-person events. The big picture: Customized videoconferencing tools may be what users need, but the tech industry usually coalesces around one-size-fits-all platforms that substitute the power of scale for the appeal of tailor-made services. * From office-document software to search engines and social networks to e-commerce, tech remains a winner-take-all world. Videoconferencing requires a lot of bandwidth and technical overhead, and the ability to deliver that may win out over subtler improvements in interface and social features. Between the lines: Better hardware can also play an important role in making video conferencing more satisfying. * Already we've seen Zoom come to smart displays such as Facebook's Portal and Amazon's Echo Show. TV set-top-boxes are probably next. Amazon already added camera support to its FireTV Cube device. * Dedicated video-conferencing devices could also break into the consumer market after being aimed almost entirely at businesses. * Meanwhile, 2021's laptop models may get serious camera upgrades, coming after device makers have had time to address the rise of remote work in their development and production cycles. What's next: In the meantime, expect another year of people buying add-on microphones, cameras and ring lights to improve their at-home set-ups. Go deeper Fadel Allassan 3 hours ago - Politics & Policy Major businesses say they will pause political donations following Capitol riots Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Major businesses are pausing donations to politicians in light of Wednesday's deadly siege of the U.S. Capitol. Driving the news: Marriott will pause donations from its PAC to "who voted against certification of the election," a company spokesperson confirmed on Sunday. Citigroup meanwhile will pause all donations from its PAC for the rest of the quarter, according to a company memo obtained by Axios. Go deeper (1 min. read) Scott Rosenberg 4 hours ago - Technology Big Tech's free speech showdown Illustration: Aida Amer/Axios Amazon's decision to boot conservative chat site Parler from its hosting platform, on the heels of Twitter and many other services banishing President Trump, brings three decades of hot argument over online speech to a boil. Why it matters: Four years of a president who behaved like a boundary-pushing online troll, fostering mayhem that culminated in Wednesday's assault on the Capitol, finally forced the executives who control today's internet to draw lines. Go deeper (2 min. read) Axios Updated 5 hours ago - Politics & Policy Coronavirus dashboard Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios 1. Politics: Capitol physician warns lawmakers may have been exposed to COVID while hiding from pro-Trump mob. 2. Vaccine: Biden to release nearly all available vaccine doses to the public -- Why some experts want to relax vaccine prioritization -- Fauci says COVID variants threaten some treatments more than vaccines. 3. Economy: Labor market recovery halted with few silver linings in sight. 4. World: U.K. reports highest daily COVID-19 death toll since start of the pandemic -- Countries begin to line up for Chinese and Russian vaccines. Go deeper (1 min. read) Axios gets you smarter, faster with news & information that matters. Copyright Axios Media, 2021 About About Axios Advertise with us Careers Events Axios on HBO Axios Local Privacy and terms Online tracking choices Contact us Subscribe Axios newsletters Axios app Axios podcasts Courses