ENGAGE News

[h3]Host controls[/h3]
o Added the option for a host to reset VR tracking for other users.
o Added an option for a host to lock and unlock a Session or Event to control if other users can join.
o Added an option for hosts to summon individual users to a specified area within an environment.

[h3]Avatars[/h3]
o Added the option for VR users to reset tracking through their wrist controls.

[h3]IP and asset protection[/h3]
o Removed the ability for LITE users to save IFX snapshots.
o Added a Session setting to control whether shared IFX are included when users save a snapshot, which is turned off by default.

[h3]Shared screen[/h3]
o Added the ability to choose a specific application to share, in addition to any connected screen.




[h3]Security and performance[/h3]
o Applied important updates and improvements that benefit the stability of the platform.
o Improved user password creation to prevent users from choosing a commonly used password.
o Added the option for users to show and hide passwords, in accordance with OWASP ASVS V4 guidance.
o Added a password strength indicator.

[h3]Host controls[/h3]
o Improved the summon process for hosts on VR devices, so that they can change the direction in which summoned users will face.

[h3]Content Editor[/h3]
o Added the O key as a shortcut to display IFX options for the currently selected object.
o Renamed Content Creator to Content Editor in the application.
o Renamed Scenes to Sequences in the application.
o Improved the save process so that the playhead maintains its position instead of jumping back to zero on the timeline.

[h3]Portals[/h3]
o Added support for portals that lead to password protected Sessions. The user must enter the password to travel through the portal.

[h3]Emojis[/h3]
o Added the option for users on Windows devices to activate emojis through keyboard shortcuts.

[h3]Audio[/h3]
o Changed the mute rule for away mode so that upon leaving away mode, a person’s microphone has the same mute status as before they entered away mode.
o Reduced the volume of the countdown audio alert to a more comfortable level when seating, summoning, or recording users.

[h3]Avatars[/h3]
o Improved the clapping and hand raise animations that can be activated by users not on VR devices.

[h3]Media[/h3]
o Added metadata information to the video search results page.

[h3]Localization[/h3]
o Applied multiple improvements to placement and spacing of localized text.

[h3]Web browser[/h3]
o Improved website filtering to prevent users from accessing inappropriate sites through the in-Session browser.



[h3]Audio[/h3]
o Fixed an issue on Windows devices that caused the selected microphone input to reset to the default setting when the display layout changed.

[h3]Avatars[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that caused an avatar’s arm to rotate unrealistically when a user brought their controller close to their head.

[h3]Content Editor[/h3]
o Fixed an issue on Windows devices where pressing the C key to enter text in fields caused the controls overlay to toggle on and off.
o Fixed dragging objects to new locations on the timeline when the timeline is scrolled vertically.
o Fixed an issue that caused media captured in a recording to play only the first few seconds in a loop.
o Fixed an issue that could prevent changes to the time value field in a Skip to Time IFX from being saved.
o Fixed an issue where use of the undo option could cause objects, such as image IFX, to begin to visibly flicker.
o Fixed an issue where transformations applied to objects were not added to the undo history, and so use of the undo option ignored those actions.
o Fixed an issue where audio files loaded through the Cloud File Manager were not audible until after you saved and reloaded the sequence.
o Restored the ability to add triggered effects to interactive IFX.
o Fixed the appearance of the Video Screen (Flat External URL) IFX to remove a transparent strip that was displayed at its center.

[h3]Emojis[/h3]
o Fixed an issue where access to the emojis panel could carry over into a session where emojis were disabled, although the user could not activate any emojis.

[h3]Events[/h3]
o Fixed a bug that delayed a user from being able to restart an Event after they ended it.

[h3]Localization[/h3]
o Added missing translations for some languages.
o Fixed overlapping text that appeared for some languages when a user shared their desktop on a PC VR device.

[h3]Media[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that caused overlapping images to appear on the Shared Screen page when viewing a 360 video in the 360 video room.
o Fixed an issue with recordings that included a shared PowerPoint presentation, where if a user saw other avatars move in front of the media screen, those avatars left visual artefacts behind them.

[h3]Personal boundary[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that prevented a user’s tablet from disappearing at the same time as an avatar.

[h3]Recordings[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that caused users that joined a session after a recording was loaded as an IFX to not see the recording.

[h3]Snapshots[/h3]
o Fixed an issue where an IFX snapshot that was renamed still displayed its original name when loaded into a Session.

[h3]Sticky notes[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that prevented users from entering text in the middle of previously entered text on Windows and macOS devices.

[h3]User interface[/h3]
o Fixed an issue where a user could not interact with parts of their in-Session menu while their avatar was on a moving platform or object.
o Fixed an issue that caused multiline titles in the loading environment to be partially cut off.
o Fixed an issue with the hard mute icon that appears above an avatar’s head that caused it to be seen through objects and scenery.
o Fixed an issue that caused the user interface to show through parts of the media loading spinner.
o Corrected the title on the virtual keyboard that appears when a user performs a search for a saved video link.
o Fixed an issue where the indication that content is playing remained visible when content playback was interrupted by a user loading a video link or web link.

[h3]VR headsets[/h3]
o Fixed an issue where the avatar’s hand remained visible when interacting with the in-Session menu on PICO and VIVE headsets.
o Fixed an issue where hand controllers were not visible on PICO and VIVE headsets.


NOTE : ENGAGE XR no longer supports stand-alone VR headsets that were released before 2020, which includes Oculus Quest 1, Pico Neo 2, and VIVE Focus Plus devices. This is due to the continuing withdrawal of support by hardware manufacturers and the increasing demands of modern VR. Users with these devices may continue to access ENGAGE, but we cannot guarantee the stability or performance that they will experience.

[h3]Emojis[/h3]
o Applied a fix to enable use of emojis in scalable Events.

[h3]Shared media[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that could cause videos loaded from redirecting URLs to repeatedly play only a few seconds before restarting.

[h3]Voice communication[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that could cause the wrong VoIP service to be selected for a scalable Event, which then prevented being able to lock users in a mute state.

[h3]Localization[/h3]
o Added some missing localization strings in the UI.

[h3]Emojis[/h3]
o Added the ability for users to display reactions through a selection of emojis using the in-Session menu or VR wrist controls

[h3]Localization[/h3]
o Added Spanish language support.

[h3]ENGAGE LINK[/h3]
o Added a call bell to the help desk in central plaza, so that users can request assistance even if a support agent is not present in the space.




[h3]Avatars[/h3]
o Implemented a placeholder avatar that is displayed until a user’s chosen avatar has fully downloaded.

[h3]Loading scene[/h3]
o Replaced the loading animation that plays when users transition between locations to make the experience more comfortable.

[h3]Emails[/h3]
o Updated links and information included in notification emails, such as the request for a user to confirm their email address and confirmation of Event registration.

[h3]Movement[/h3]
o Provided VR device users with the option to enable free movement through a pop-up if they try to use this method of movement.

[h3]Security and performance[/h3]
o Applied important updates and improvements that benefit the stability of the platform.




[h3]Avatars[/h3]
o Corrected shoulder position when full motion tracking is used.
o Fixed an issue that could cause an avatar’s head rotation to drift when switching between basic and full-body avatars.
o Fixed away notifications to appear in red text.
o Fixed an issue that could cause a user’s collection of My Face and the assigned names to become mismatched.
o Fixed an issue that could cause a My Face to display incorrectly in the avatar editor when a user cycled through multiple configurations.

[h3]Notifications[/h3]
o Restored the audible countdown that precedes users being summoned, seated, or recorded.

[h3]Persistent Sessions[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that prevented users from joining one of their group’s persistent sessions when the maximum quota of persistent sessions was reached.
o Fixed an issue that prevented users from editing a persistent session until after a user joined the persistent session

[h3]Content Editor[/h3]
o Ensured that leaving and re-entering the Content Editor resets metadata, such as file name and scene title.

[h3]Device information[/h3]
o Implemented a fix to ensure that the list of detected Steam PC VR devices on the Users page is accurate.

[h3]Shared media[/h3]
o Fixed an issue where travelling through a portal while sharing media could prevent a user from sharing media in the destination.
o Fixed the appearance of 3D chroma-key videos.
o Reinstated the mobile version of the web browser on standalone VR devices, which fixes issues such as the display of PowerPoint presentations that are loaded through web links

[h3]LITE users[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that caused all users to be temporarily identified as LITE users when they joined a Session.

[h3]All VR devices[/h3]
o Fixed the transition when leaving a Session or entering a portal to ensure a complete fade to black.

[h3]PC VR devices [/h3]
o Implemented a workaround for a Steam VR bug that caused left and right eye views to be slightly different.

[h3]VIVE Devices[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that caused VIVE Focus Plus headsets to crash when a video was played in a Session.

[h3]Localization[/h3]
o Fixed the appearance of tooltips for sort options on the Users page of the in-Session menu.
o Added some missing localization strings in the UI.
o Fixed the placement of labels on the ENGAGE LINK map for spaces with long localized names.

[h3]Events[/h3]
o Removed the option for users to request access to an Event after a previous request is granted.

[h3]Safeguarding[/h3]
o Implemented a personal boundary system so that if two users come into close proximity, they become invisible to each other.

[h3]Host Controls[/h3]
o Provided hosts with the ability to enable or disable use of personal boundaries in a session.
o Provided hosts with controls to set which avatars appear with full bodies and which avatars appear with basic bodies on low-powered devices.
o Added an option to mute LITE users in a session.
o Added a label to the list of users in a session that identifies LITE accounts.

[h3]Seats[/h3]
o Added the ability for users to teleport from one seat to another.

[h3]Account managament[/h3]
o Enabled a user to request the deletion of their account from within the ENGAGE application.

[h3]Desktop devices[/h3]
o Added an overlay and splash screen on Windows desktop devices that shows commonly used controls.

[h3]Events[/h3]
o Added the option for users to opt into marketing communications when they register for an event. Bespoke solution available only through the ENGAGE team.

[h3]Media[/h3]
o Added support for 3D chroma key videos.
o Added the option to loop a video that’s loaded through the Shared Screen.

[h3]UI[/h3]
o Added a search function on the Users page of the in-session menu, and the ability to sort by join order, name, avatar type, device type, or hosts status.

[h3]VIVE Focus devices[/h3]
o Added support for users of VIVE Focus headsets to access sessions through deep links.

[h3]Steam[/h3]
o Upgraded to latest Unity XR plugin version.




[h3]Avatars[/h3]
o Optimized the bone structure in avatars to reduce complexity and improve performance.
o Standardized the number of full-body avatars that appear on devices other than desktop and PC VR to a maximum of five.
o Reduced the brightness of white clothing on basic avatars.

[h3]Content Editor[/h3]
o Added the ability to select a key in the curve editor and adjust both the time and value properties with numerical entry and spinner controls.
o Added the ability to select a key in the curve editor and restrict movement to only the vertical or horizontal axis.
o Matched the times displayed in the dope sheet and curve editor with the main timeline.
o Added the option to hide tracks in the curve editor.
o Set the Content Editor as the default option on the Create & Edit page.
o Added the ability to set a user-defined length of time for the fade-in and fade-out durations in the fade to color IFX.
o Updated the behavior of the 'frame selected’ feature to not change the current play head position.
o Removed the auto-generated keyframe that was added at the start position of object containers.
o Implemented separate loop controls for animations captured in a recording and animations applied to recordings through the use of keys.

[h3]Events[/h3]
o Added a new event type for concerts. Bespoke solution available only through the ENGAGE team.
o Removed the invite button from a user’s in-session menu when they are in a concert Event.
o Added the ability to set a registration cut-off date for Events.
o Added an availability indicator for concert Events on the Event listing page to identify sold out and limited availability.

[h3]Locations[/h3]
o Added the ability for a user to download a location before they move to a new session.

[h3]Audio[/h3]
o Set a user’s personal mute state to persist when travelling through a portal.
o Added a notification for when a host removes the mute lock restriction to inform users that they can unmute themselves if they want to.

[h3]Sessions[/h3]
o Prevented users from being able to create public sessions if their group has disabled the ability to view public sessions.
o Implemented an animated loading screen for when users join a session or travel through a portal.
o Improved the system through which users join a persistent session so that they are always ready for users to join.

[h3]Media[/h3]
o Maximized the video size in the in-session menu, with controls appearing on hover.
o Improved the display of shared media to ensure that videos display at the correct aspect ratio and do not stretch to fill the 16:9 aspect ratio shared screen.

[h3]Menu Screen[/h3]
o Redesigned the menu screen and changed the surrounding environment.

[h3]Security and performance[/h3]
o Applied important updates and improvements that benefit the stability of the platform.

[h3]UI[/h3]
o Implemented an improved in-session notification system.
o Added tooltips to permission icons on the User page.
o Replaced the separate pages of listed users with a single scrollable page
o Repositioned the Invite button on the Users page.
o Added in-application instruction panels that include additional information about new features.
o Made the in-application cursor smaller on desktop and VR devices to allow for more precise selections.
o Moved content playback controls to the Content page of the in-session menu.



[h3]Avatars[/h3]
o Adjusted the male head scarf (ghutrah and agal) to prevent protrusion of the head on basic avatars.
o Fixed an issue that caused a visible seam on a female avatar’s shoulders with certain outfits and My Face selected.
o Fixed an issue that could cause an avatar’s arms to show through some items of clothing when the avatar performed certain gestures.
o Fixed the female seated pose for dresses and skirts to prevent an avatar’s legs from overlapping.
o Fixed neck length and a visible seam on the necks of avatars when My Face is active.
o Fixed an issue that prevented avatar lips from moving until after a My Face downloaded.
o Fixed an issue that prevented avatar hair from appearing until after a My Face downloaded.
o Fixed the appearance of clothing decals to remove distortion.
o Removed the controls that allowed a user to select a clothing decal for items that did not support decals.

[h3]Content Editors[/h3]
o Prevented pressing the space bar from starting playback when a user is editing effect option parameters.
o Fixed an issue where objects that were scaled with the gizmo did not save their new scale.
o Fixed an issue that prevented custom names for objects from appearing on the timeline.
o Fixed an issue where an animation applied to a 3D model in the Content Editor did not playback in a session because of an animation included on the root of the 3D model.
o Fixed an issue where starting the playback of an animation while in the dope sheet, and then switching to the timeline, caused the animation to continue to play but the timeline time counter remained static.

[h3]Media[/h3]
o Corrected left-right eye assignment for a selection of stereo videos that had issues when viewed in the 360 video room.
o Fixed an issue that could cause media playback to fail and prevent subsequent media to load.
o Fixed the display of ampersands in the titles of video search results.
o Fixed an issue that caused an attached webcam to activate when a user shared their desktop and then switched monitors.
o Fixed an issue that could cause IFX screens to become translucent and show objects behind them.

[h3]Host Controls[/h3]
o Applied a fix to immediately update the Users page when a user’s host status changes.

[h3]IFX[/h3]
o Prevented a user from accessing the gizmo for an IFX chair that they are sitting on.

[h3]Localization[/h3]
o Added missing localization text to the gizmo.
o Corrected overlapping text that appeared on the Shared Screen page in some languages.

[h3]Portals[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that could cause users that travel through the same portal to the same destination to appear in duplicate destination sessions.

[h3]Recordings[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that could cause a recording to fail to save if it became too long.
o Corrected the name of the Active tab on the Recordings page, which had been mislabeled as Shared Screen.

[h3]VIVE devices[/h3]
o Fixed an issue where users couldn’t interact with the UI after a new install on a VIVE Focus 3 device.
o Corrected the labels for the VIVE Flow 3 DOF controller diagram.

[h3]Security and performance[/h3]
o Applied important updates and improvements that benefit the stability of the platform.



[h3]Locations[/h3]
o Fixed an issue where the download of a new or updated location could timeout, and the user would be returned to the menu screen.

[h3]Recordings[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that prevented 3D pen drawings from being captured in recordings.

[h3]Media[/h3]
o Fixed an issue that could cause shared media to fail after playing content that included video.

[h3]Content Editor[/h3]
o Fixed puppet recording to ensure smooth transition between keys.