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Google is rolling out a new feature that enables Google Chat (opens in new tab) users to automatically schedule “Do Not Disturb,” which the company hopes will give a helpful concentration boost when needed.
Until now, users could set a custom duration for their Do Not Disturb period. This meant they had to set it manually during lunch, the end of the day, or the beginning of the weekend.
Custom DND for Google Chat
Clicking the Active indicator now gives Google Chat users the option to ‘set up a do not disturb schedule’, with support for setting up multiple rules.
According to a post on the company Workspace blog (opens in new tab)the rollout has already begun, but it may take several weeks for some users to set up custom Do Not Disturb schedules.
From the start, all account types will have access to the update, including Workspace and legacy G Suite (opens in new tab) accounts, as well as personal users.
In addition, Google makes it available to a large portion of its users by enabling it on the web interface, Android devices, and iOS devices.
Google is constantly pushing updates to its products to maintain its position as one of the working world’s preferred communication tools. More recently, it has taken a Slack-like approach to its threads with the introduction of in-thread comments.
Going forward, it seems that Google’s approach is to streamline Chat, Gmail (opens in new tab) – the company’s popular email service (opens in new tab) – and its video conferencing platform (opens in new tab)Google Meet.
It’s already partially integrated all of these into a new Gmail interface, because with slowdowns in sight for hybrid and home working, it’s likely Google will continue to invest in its productivity tools.