Google’s latest feature for its Meet video calling platform is meant for those times when you want to raise your hand to speak in a meeting but can’t find the damn button. Instead, the company says you’ll soon be able to raise your actual mitt in front of the webcam, and have Meet raise your digital hand accordingly.
- Home
- Technology
- News
Google Meet’s latest feature lets you raise your hand to raise your hand
You’ll soon be able to raise your actual hand in front of your webcam, and have Google Meet raise your digital hand accordingly thanks to gesture recognition.


A short GIF of the feature released by Google shows how it looks in practice. Because the camera needs to see your hand, you can’t raise it above your head like an excited school kid. Instead it almost looks like Google’s example is showing their palm to the camera in a “whoa, slow down there buddy” sort of way. But I still think it’s a fun, possibly more natural addition that could help you keep focused on a meeting when you want to contribute, rather than getting distracted by hunting through Meet’s controls.
“To ensure the gesture is detected, make sure your camera is enabled and your hand is visible to the camera, away from your face and body,” Google’s blog post explains, noting that the gesture control is disabled when you’re the active speaker.
The gesture detection feature is off by default, but can be enabled by going to “More Options” then “Reactions” and selecting “Hand Raise Gesture.” Access is rolling out gradually over the coming weeks to subscribers on a range of Google Workspace business, enterprise, and education plans, but there’s no mention of if or when the feature could become available for people with personal Google accounts.

‘Aghosh’ program: New mothers, pregnant women in Punjab to get Rs23,000
- 2 hours ago

LHC orders to form committee to investigate harassment in educational institutions
- 2 hours ago

Current account deficit reduced by over $1bn in 8 months
- 4 hours ago

Terrorism has no home on Pakistani soil: PM
- 14 minutes ago

FO highlights objectives of PM Shehbaz’s visit to Saudi Arabia
- an hour ago

24 dengue cases reported in Karachi
- 41 minutes ago

Bahraini National Guard Commander meets COAS Asim Munir
- 3 hours ago

Mercedes-Benz is hedging its bets with rebooted CLA sedan
- 38 minutes ago

Army Chief arrives in Parliamentary Committee on National Security meeting
- 2 hours ago

Israeli’s worst bombing in Gaza, 200 Palestinians martyred, several injured
- 5 hours ago

Mother, daughters kidnapped from Sheikhupura rescued in Lahore
- 4 hours ago

CTD kill three terrorists in Bannu, Charsadda
- an hour ago