Microsoft Teams will add sign language views and frequently displayed subtitles

CTOnews.com, October 20, Microsoft has added several useful features to Teams in the past few months, and will bring more in the future. Microsoft is working to bring accessibility to people with hearing impairment to help them attend Teams meetings.

Microsoft plans to add sign language views and frequent subtitles to next month's Teams conference.

CTOnews.com learned that Microsoft Teams would "give priority to sign language videos of up to two other participants in the meeting," according to the description on the Microsoft 365Roadmap page. These videos will be visible even when sharing content.

Microsoft did not explain how the feature would work on Teams. Its competitor Zoom already supports sign language translation in conferences and webinars. In Zoom, the moderator of meetings and webinars can designate multiple participants as sign language translators, so that participants can choose a variety of sign language interpreters.

Microsoft has promised to offer sign language views universally in Teams on Windows and Mac devices in November, but it may be delayed.