Learn about the impact that using a specific type of virtual background for your Zoom meetings can have on how fatigued you feel from videoconferencing and read expert advice on how to make this work best..
The Cognitive Load of the Virtual Background.
Being that the pandemic has put us in a position where we have had to adopt the habit of remote work and virtual socializing, our use of videoconferencing platforms like Zoom, for example, on an everyday basis has become very common. Nevertheless, VF or videoconferencing fatigue can begin to creep in and spending hours engaging with life on the other end of our screens can feel unsustainable.
The virtual background you choose can also contribute to what causes Zoom fatigue, researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore found. It appears people using video backgrounds contributed to the greatest level of VF followed by those who used blurred backgrounds and not surprisingly, a greater level of VF than those with static image backgrounds.
This is because of the length it takes for our brains to instinctively respond to new information in an environment and this consumes cognitive resources which elevates our cognitive load generally. As new information is more frequently displaying through static image backgrounds, users can move their mind elsewhere faster. Additionally, blurred backgrounds at times reveal new insights as users watch the physical world operate. On the other hand, video backgrounds update new information all along which draws passing by user attention—but also continuously breaking cognitive band of an intruding responsibility.
Effects of Backcast Content on Videoconferencing Fatigue
The content of the virtual background affects ecological VF as well, according to the study. The group members who used backgrounds featuring nature had lower levels of VF than those working in backgrounds including an office or public site.
Theoretically, according to researchers, using backgrounds with work environment or public settings might worsen the self-presentative pressure which would then incite more fatigue. On the other hand, a nature-themed background may offer an easier and less demanding cognitive experience.
Curiously, the study discovered that those which used humorous and lighthearted backgrounds also reported the lowest levels of VF. So when more casual settings become the context — for example, on virtual social gatherings — apparently backgrounds that recall playfulness and relaxation can effectively take the edge off of videoconferencing fatigue.
As a result, the virtual background has an important influence on the user’s psychology and well-being when participating in video conferencing. Today, users can improve full-day videoconferencing and keep their energy up throughout the day just by choosing the kind of virtual backgrounds they use.
Conclusion
This piece of research at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore is relevant as it examines the connection between virtual backgrounds and videoconferencing fatigue. Insight into these cognitive and psychological drivers can help users better understand the selection process for their virtual backgrounds, thereby improving their video conferencing experience — and wellbeing. Given the ongoing prominence of remote work and virtual interactions, these insights may help individuals and organizations ensure that their videoconferencing practices enable them to stay engaged and productive in the future.
