News > Smart & Connected Life Zoom Announces Several Updates Including Live Translations Also coming are new whiteboard features and a Zoom widget By Allison Murray Allison Murray Twitter Tech News Reporter Southern Illinois University Allison reports on all things tech. She's a news junky that keeps her eye on the latest trends. Allison is a writer working out of Chicago, IL, with her only coworker: her cat Norbert. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on September 13, 2021 04:48PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Twitter University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Smart & Connected Life Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Zoom announced several updates on Monday as part of its annual conference, Zoomtopia 2021. Most notably, the company said it would expand its automated transcription technology to 30 languages and add live translations to 12 languages by the end of next year. Zoom said it would use machine learning and natural language processing technology to transcribe the language spoken, and then participants can have it translate to their language preference. Chris Montgomery / Unsplash Another big update is in the platform’s whiteboard feature, which will allow users to access Zoom Whiteboard from anywhere at any time. For example, you'll be able to share a whiteboard over email or Zoom Chat and add sticky notes, comments, and drawings for brainstorming sessions. "We are excited to share that we are building a new persistent whiteboard experience that enables powerful, easy-to-use visual collaboration before, during, and after a virtual meeting," Zoom said in a separate blog about its Whiteboard feature. “Zoom Whiteboard will be your powerful virtual hub for real-time and asynchronous collaboration, creating more engaging and efficient meeting experiences.” Whiteboard also will be integrated into Facebook’s virtual workspace experience, Horizon Workrooms. You'll be able to work on a Zoom Whiteboard within a Horizon Workroom, so it feels like you are in the same room with your coworkers, even if you’re miles apart. Zoom said the Horizon Workroom compatibility would be available by early 2022. LinkedIn Sales Solutions / Unsplash Among other updates, Zoom said it's adding a widget and a new toggle view called Huddle View that will give you a visual representation of a channel. Changes also are coming to Smart Gallery to enable remote workers to be represented equally on the screen with other participants. These new features will come in handy since many are still working remotely and using video calls to chat with coworkers. According to Okta’s 2021 Businesses at Work Report, Zoom is the top video conferencing app in the workplace and grew over 45% in usership between March and October 2020. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Email Address Sign up There was an error. Please try again. You're in! Thanks for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Thank you for signing up! Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit