Thanks. We were spoiled when we had live conferences—we had recordings that had both the speaker’s face and the PowerPoint. I wonder if that’s still possible in zoom. I will call the tech guys at the conference center. They use zoom too.
@Mom0f3 Sorry I just checked and it looks like I confused Google Meet with Zoom. We use them both interchangeably at work and they all get blurred together in my head.
With dual monitors you could easily join your zoom session as an attendee though. I do that for sometimes for critical presentations to large audiences.
Ah, that makes sense to join as an attendee. I did that with my iPad and was using my two monitors to share screens as appropriate. It worked pretty well but of course there’s room for improvement.
I’ve been exploring the settings and the … (three dots on the bottom of the meeting screen) to see what they do. So my much to learn. I’m going to mute myself and press and hold space bar to talk as my D suggested. That way, you cut down on background noise. It’s a setting under audio.
Chatted with a friend who has done webinars on 5 different platforms and she says zoom is fine—just learn the controls and practice so it runs as expected.
Is anyone else as relieved as I am when a Zoom meeting is canceled? ? It happened today.
Does anyone know how to set up a fake background on ZOOM. For 6 months, I have managed to get by on just audio, but I have now been ordered by my boss to appear on video at office meetings. I went back on Lexapro and secured a prescription for Xanax, but my house is a construction zone and I don’t want anyone to see it, let alone me. I know there are fake backgrounds, but I have no clue how to use them. Can anyone help, please? I am so riddled with anxiety over this I am seriously considering early retirement.
It’s called Virtual Background, and finding it depends on what device you are using to do Zoom. On my iPad, it’s on a drop down under three dots on the upper right. On my new Windows 10 computer, it’s on a drop down under video on the lower left - the icon actually says something like “hide video” but it actually has all the video commands under the drop down arrow. Depending, you can use one of their few existing backgrounds, or upload a photo of your own. I have a variety of photos I switch around, depending on what I’m doing on Zoom.
As a caveat, I have heard that Android does not do Virtual Background for Zoom.
There are YouTube videos on virtual backgrounds and how to select them for zoom. That’s what I use so it doesn’t show when my H or D walk by when I’m on a zoom conference.
It does make a difference what device you’re on. I set mine up using a PC desktop and that’s what I always have now when I use zoom. You can use one of the free, provided default backgrounds or any of your own photos. I find a calm outdoor background that’s not too busy or fussy is easier on the eyes. Zoom has a field of grass I sometimes use.
What device are you zooming on? Maybe we can provide more specific help. There are a lot of options available on a desktop that aren’t available (as far as I can find them) on smaller devices.
You need to first go into your zoom settings and allow for the virtual background. Choose “No green screen” unless you actually have a green screen. Then you can upload a photo or use some that they have already.
Once you set up your virtual background, it’s there whenever you zoom, regardless of what device you use it on until you turn it off or switch it. For me, using the desktop was easiest way to get a virtual background I liked.
Be aware that sometimes the virtual background does funny things when you move, with temporary (quick) ghost-like disappearance. It happens sometimes to our friends when they use it.
Yes, the zoom background is best when you don’t move much. I was following a speaker, doing tai chi and my limbs kept disappearing—it was a bit odd (but still better than my messy room).
I personally think that better than a virtual background is just your own simple or blank one if you can manage it. I also feel the virtual backgrounds sometimes look unnatural and grainy.
Follow RoomRater on Twitter and they rate backgrounds - you can get some good ideas!
In March, Happykid made me a custom background that combines the logo of the community college where I teach and the “Zoom University” logo from Raygun. https://www.raygunsite.com/products/zoom-university-pick-a-color
I have a bunch of fun animal and nature backgrounds that are free at the Arbor Day Foundation website. I especially like the one with lemurs. I don’t use the backgrounds very often because of the disappearing body part thing. If I had a green screen I might use them more often.