Ever since COVID-19 and social distancing, web meeting tools such as Skype, Zoom or Microsoft Teams have become widely popular. Even people who have rarely used these tools before are now frequently using them to stay in touch with friends and family. In order to make these virtual meetings as real and pleasant as possible, you should remember two key points:
- Video: Position yourself so that your face is in the upper part of the screen. Why? If your face is below and most of your screen shows the wall and ceiling of your room, your friends have to look down at you, and you cannot look into each other’s eyes.
- Audio: Avoid sitting in a room with “hard surfaces” (e.g. no curtains or carpets), where the sound is bouncing back and forth, thereby creating a shrill echo. If that is not possible, hang a bed sheet behind or in front of you on the wall.
If you keep these two simple tricks in mind, your friends will be able to enjoy seeing and hearing you in a pleasant way.