Your Zoom background could affect how tired you feel after a video call

Since telecommuting remains common for many people, so does sitting in video calls. Many video conferencing platforms allow users to set virtual backgrounds. But could this choice have different effects on how tired people feel after a video call? Researchers have studied and found that video backgrounds make people more tired than any other background option, but nature scenes help you stay more focused.

Many people's experiences with the pandemic included working from home. Even after lockdowns, video conferencing remains an important part of life as people continue to work remotely, connect with families and friends online, and participate in virtual events hosted on video conferencing platforms.

However, hours of video calls can be exhausting and manifest in physical, emotional or cognitive fatigue – a phenomenon known as video conferencing fatigue (VF). Now researchers in Singapore have asked whether there is a connection between virtual backgrounds and VF and what mechanisms lie behind it.

“We show that using different types and contents of virtual backgrounds can contribute to VF,” said Heng Zhang, co-author of the study published in Limits in psychology and researcher at the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University. “Users who use virtual video backgrounds experience higher levels of VF than users who use images or blurred virtual backgrounds.”

Tiresome backgrounds

The researchers conducted a survey with more than 600 participants in which they asked people whether they use virtual backgrounds and what type of background (static image, blurred image, video or no virtual background) they choose. The researchers also measured VF using a five-point scale indicating levels of general, visual, social, motivational and emotional fatigue. Participants ranged in age from 22 to 76 and worked from home approximately three days per week.

The results showed that participants using video backgrounds experienced the highest levels of VF. Users using blurred backgrounds also experienced higher VF than those using static images. “Our brain automatically reacts to new information in the environment. This depletes cognitive resources, which then increases cognitive load and consequently leads to ventricular fibrillation,” Zhang explained.

According to the researchers, the key lies in how much new information is contained in the background. “Image backgrounds initially present new information, but users' attention can gradually be drawn to other areas. Blurred backgrounds do not lead to new information, but occasionally users catch a glimpse of the real environment that presents new information. However, video backgrounds constantly introduce new information, constantly interrupting users’ attention and taxing cognitive resources.”

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Virtual nature

In addition to the type of background, the environment displayed in the background can also influence VF. “Users who use nature-themed backgrounds report lower VF values ​​compared to others,” Zhang said. Other backgrounds such as office environments or public spaces can increase the pressure on users to appear as if they are actually in one of these environments, leading to increased fatigue. “In a work environment, a nature-themed backdrop could be an ideal choice,” Zhang pointed out.

During telephone conversations in a relaxed environment, participants who used a lighthearted and fun background reported the lowest VF levels. It is important that users choose backgrounds appropriately because different contexts require different types of backgrounds, the authors said. Considered decisions could not only increase the effectiveness of meetings, but also improve users' psychological experience and reduce fatigue associated with video conferencing.

Optimize video calls

Their study provides a scientific basis for further optimizing the video conferencing experience and helping users make more informed decisions, the researchers said. These insights could be particularly valuable for users who use video calls for work and could help them maintain their wellbeing while maximizing the benefits of this way of working.

Nevertheless, according to the authors, further studies are needed to focus on how different age groups and video calling purposes influence the relationship between virtual backgrounds and VF. Furthermore – and despite the fact that many people spend a lot of time watching themselves during a video call – it is necessary to investigate the role that other users' backgrounds play in VF. “A more comprehensive understanding of the role of virtual backgrounds in video conferencing could provide more targeted recommendations for future research and practice,” Zhang concluded.