COVID-19 has increased the usage of online video conferencing app than ever before. The world of technology has made our life much easier but with all this ease, there are some negative effects on our mental and physical health as well. As the Stanford researchers find out that attending video conferencing for long can be dangerous for many of us. However, it is not just about the Zoom app, it all about the video conferencing app which has designed flaws to exhaust the human mind and body which they sit and attend video conferences for long hours, they become exhausted more than attending physical meetings or attending physical lectures.
Professor Jeremy Bailenson made this research, who found out the four main reasons why video conferencing is fatigue to human beings. His research does not mean to discourage the use of video calling apps like Zoom and other video conferencing apps, he said that these apps are much useful especially when people are bound to stay at home, but he suggested reviewing that how they are being used.
He further said in his statement that video conferencing app is a good tool no doubt, but think about the medium. In simple words, if it is possible then avoid using these apps for too long.
One of the reasons for fatigue is excessive eye contact because you have to focus on the screen at all times when you are attending a meeting on the app, however, it is not the same in the case of a physical meeting where you also have other things to focus on. This triggers the anxiety of public speaking when a person is not even speaking in the online meeting, he is just listening to others but he has to stare at all the faces. This creates the phobia of social anxiety of public speaking. However, you can apply few precautions including don’t use the full-screen mode; reduce the size of the window related to your size of the face.
The second thing is looking at yourself when talking to another person which happens in the Zoom video conferencing at the bottom of the screen which shows your face all the time. However, users can hide the self-view button by right-clicking on your photo during a call.
The third problem is you just have to stay at one place to attend the video conferencing when reduces your mobility. According to research, moving more correlates to better working of the brain. However, people can apply the precaution of taking a short rest during the meeting. You can also think more about the room that you’re sitting in which give you the psychological effect that you are attending a physical meeting.
The fourth fatigue problem is a higher cognitive load. There is a lack of gestures and body language which makes it difficult to interpret the video calls during the meeting. Everybody knows that non-verbal communication is an important part of the meeting which sends and receives signals. You can give yourself an audio-only break during the online meeting. By doing that you are not subjected to others’ exaggerated body language.
These are the precautions that everyone can use while using these online video conferencing apps.
Photo: Alistair Berg/Getty Images
Sources: 1 / 2.
Read next: The Americas and Africa Have the Poorest Internet Service Despite it Being the Most Expensive
Professor Jeremy Bailenson made this research, who found out the four main reasons why video conferencing is fatigue to human beings. His research does not mean to discourage the use of video calling apps like Zoom and other video conferencing apps, he said that these apps are much useful especially when people are bound to stay at home, but he suggested reviewing that how they are being used.
He further said in his statement that video conferencing app is a good tool no doubt, but think about the medium. In simple words, if it is possible then avoid using these apps for too long.
One of the reasons for fatigue is excessive eye contact because you have to focus on the screen at all times when you are attending a meeting on the app, however, it is not the same in the case of a physical meeting where you also have other things to focus on. This triggers the anxiety of public speaking when a person is not even speaking in the online meeting, he is just listening to others but he has to stare at all the faces. This creates the phobia of social anxiety of public speaking. However, you can apply few precautions including don’t use the full-screen mode; reduce the size of the window related to your size of the face.
The second thing is looking at yourself when talking to another person which happens in the Zoom video conferencing at the bottom of the screen which shows your face all the time. However, users can hide the self-view button by right-clicking on your photo during a call.
The third problem is you just have to stay at one place to attend the video conferencing when reduces your mobility. According to research, moving more correlates to better working of the brain. However, people can apply the precaution of taking a short rest during the meeting. You can also think more about the room that you’re sitting in which give you the psychological effect that you are attending a physical meeting.
The fourth fatigue problem is a higher cognitive load. There is a lack of gestures and body language which makes it difficult to interpret the video calls during the meeting. Everybody knows that non-verbal communication is an important part of the meeting which sends and receives signals. You can give yourself an audio-only break during the online meeting. By doing that you are not subjected to others’ exaggerated body language.
These are the precautions that everyone can use while using these online video conferencing apps.
Sources: 1 / 2.
Read next: The Americas and Africa Have the Poorest Internet Service Despite it Being the Most Expensive
