FrontRow is an innovative feature in Microsoft Teams designed to make video meetings as natural and inclusive as possible. The feature alters the meeting dynamics by placing participants in a 'front row' at the bottom of the screen, creating the sensation that everyone is seated around the same table. The aim is to replicate the feeling of being in a room where everyone is seated at a table and making eye contact, just like in a traditional meeting.
This is a variant of what was called "Telepresence" when it was introduced in the 1980s, but the concept is even older than that. Prior to its introduction, it appeared in science fiction literature, often in the form of avatars whose minds could be remotely accessed and controlled. The overarching goal of all forms of telepresence is, of course, to enhance the feeling of truly "being there" even when one is at a distance.
The technology for this varies depending on the application. There's a difference between remotely performing surgery on a human, training astronauts, or providing a group of collaborating individuals with a sense of togetherness despite being separated by distance.
To truly maximize the experience of your video meeting, you need more than just the right software; you also need to adapt your interior design. With such a design solution, rooms can be utilized in entirely new, more flexible ways, such as by placing the screen on the long wall instead of the short wall as is commonly done today. Another advantage of this layout is the improved ergonomics. Since all participants are facing the screen, neck and body twisting is minimized, making the meeting more comfortable for everyone involved.
To complete the FrontRow experience, a new aspect ratio called 21:9 is also introduced, referring to the width-to-height ratio of the image. In practice, this means the image becomes even wider than what we are normally accustomed to, allowing participants to fit in a single row next to each other. The camera is also strategically placed right below the screen or projection surface.
At Pendax, we naturally continue to offer installation-free furnishings that include everything from cameras to display equipment and all other necessary technology (see, for example, MeetingWall and Mobile). However, considering FrontRow's specific requirements, we've decided to also manufacture customized tables in our Custom Shop. There, you have complete control over materials and design, while we contribute our expertise and manufacturing capabilities to ensure functional and practical solutions.
The tables come in three variations: FrontRow Wedge, FrontRow Arc, and BackRow Arc.
FrontRow Wedge is a wedge-shaped table that is wider towards the screen. This allows remote participants to see everyone seated around the table. The table can be moved closer to the screen, eliminating the need for additional cable infrastructure.
FrontRow Arc is an arc-shaped table that can be placed next to each other to form a larger arc with the camera at the center. This ensures that all meeting participants are facing forward. One consequence of this is that everyone participates on equal terms, whether they are physically present or joining remotely. Another consequence is that the experience resembles what we are accustomed to from the screens at our personal workstations. It's likely no coincidence that this is the case, given that Microsoft is the one launching this concept.
BackRow Arc is an arc-shaped standing table with a larger radius that can be placed behind the FrontRow Arc for larger meetings with more participants. These three table types cover all kinds of remote meetings, from two participants and upwards.