Virtual Backgrounds On Video Calls Impact Fatigue Levels, Study Finds
The team said that spending hours on video calls can be exhausting and manifest as physical, emotional, or cognitive tiredness—a phenomenon known as videoconferencing fatigue, or VF. ANNA SHVETS VIA PEXELS. “>…
The team said that spending hours on video calls can be exhausting and manifest as physical, emotional, or cognitive tiredness—a phenomenon known as videoconferencing fatigue, or VF. ANNA SHVETS VIA PEXELS.
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According to new research, zoom backgrounds influence how tired people feel after a video call.
Scientists say people who use video virtual backgrounds experience higher levels of fatigue than people who use image or blurred backgrounds.
They wanted to find which type of background could leave people feeling less exhausted after a day of videoconferencing.
The team, based in Singapore, says that spending hours on video calls can be exhausting and manifest as physical, emotional, or cognitive tiredness—a phenomenon known as videoconferencing fatigue, or VF.
Study co-author Heng Zhang said: “We show that the use of different types and contents of virtual backgrounds can contribute to VF.
“Users who utilize video virtual backgrounds experience higher levels of VF compared to those who use image or blurred virtual backgrounds.”
The team surveyed more than 600 participants who were asked whether they use virtual backgrounds and what type of background they chose – static image, blurred image, video, or no virtual background.
The researchers also measured VF using a five-point scale that indicated general, visual, social, motivational, and emotional fatigue levels.
The participants, aged between 22 and 76, worked from home three days a week.
The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology, showed that those who used video backgrounds experienced the highest levels of VF.
