![]() ![]() If you go to a meeting a day, that’s a few dollars a meeting over the course of a year. The entire setup, all of the things that I’ve listed above, comes to less than $1,000–less than half of that if you already have a camera or use Camo. Here’s a typical beamsplitter with hood and mount, and here’s a monitor that should fit with it. This setup is now far cheaper than I expected. You can look directly at the glass, and the camera behind it, but instead of looking at the glass and the camera, what you’re actually looking at is the teleprompter or the stuff that’s on the screen. It’s basically a piece of fancy glass, at an angle, on top of a monitor or screen. And it’s really tiring, because you end up spending your time not doing something humans evolved to do, which is look at each other. You’d freak out if you had a real life meeting with someone who never made eye contact. Either way, there’s no eye to eye connection. You’re staring over their head if you’re looking at the camera, or, possibly, you’re looking at them, but it appears to them that you’re looking at your keyboard. When you look at the camera in a zoom call, you’re not looking at the person you’re talking with. (You can add a microphone while you’re at it).Īnd then, there’s one last step, which has been the biggest leap for me since the self-view insight. ![]() It also pays to get a power cable for your camera so it doesn’t run out on you. In Zoom, change the camera from your computer to the camera. The HDMI output goes to your capture box and then into your computer. How it works: The camera goes on a tripod and sits just above and slightly behind your computer screen. (And scroll down to the end of this post for a camera alternative) I use this capture box, but your mileage may vary. Again, all three have alternatives, feel free to shop around. You’ll need a camera, a tripod, and a capture box. ![]() This is a much bigger commitment, but the difference it makes is startling. Get an external DSLR camera and hook it up to your Mac or PC. ![]() They’re incredibly cheap now (here’s a sample, but shop around.) Set them up to the left and right of your screen, a few feet behind it. Just as we don’t hesitate to buy a new outfit for a big meeting, or pay $500 for a plane ticket, these are investments, and in the scheme of your career, they’re pretty reasonable–and your boss should pay for them: But it’s become clear that it’s possible to deliver more fidelity and impact by investing in some tech. Part of the magic of video meetings is that without a commute or fancy equipment beyond a phone or a laptop, people could join. The next steps cost more in setup and money, and I’ll cover them from easiest to most involved. Second, also free: rearrange your workspace so that light is not coming from behind you. You’ll have to change the setting at the start of every meeting (this should be high on their list of things to fix) but it’s pretty easy.īy hiding your face from your screen, you can focus more on everyone else in the meeting. It turns out that looking in the mirror all day wears us out. What this means is that as in real life, you won’t be able to see yourself. In Zoom, find the button for HIDE SELF VIEW. My Zoom presence is significantly enhanced, which makes it easier to get my point across.Īnd here’s a photo of what it looks like from my side.įirst! It’s free, it takes about one minute and will change the way you feel at the end of the day.I can be present in meetings with far less fatigue.I’ve put together a rig in my office that is noteworthy for two reasons: Now that it’s clear that the nature of work and meetings has changed forever, perhaps this is a good moment to embrace what’s possible. Not only did we feel lousy at the end of the day, but other people rarely saw us at our best. It’s time to get serious about how we show up in remote meetings.įor a year, we slogged through it, but it was exhausting. ![]()
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