A Cute View
Remote work pro tip: if you wear glasses, everyone on a zoom call can see your screen...
— Chris Herd (@chris_herd) April 2, 2024
Regardless of you wearing glasses or not, how aware of this are you?
Not only reflecting your main screen, but any other or lighting in your direction too.
The above 'tip' is posted by a remote worker who began making a product for provisioning remote workers just prior the you-know-what.
After first video calling back in '98, then soon videoing as regular business comms, I once paid top dollar for anti screen glare lenses. Alas, the giveaway double bluey oblong still shone from my specs.
Both irritating for me, and distracting for my fellow participants.
I wonder if the tech has moved on since? Anyway.
Even back then, I wanted people to see my eyes. Be openly expressionate. Akin to the trust trick of this famous 30sec British army ad of the late 90s.
We too can unblock the barrier of reflected screen.
Yes, we can on occasion lift our frames. Pop 'em atop our head like shades indoors for a moment when looking webcam-wards. Or even take them off and point at the screen to emphasise a key point.
But on any video call, whether you've readers or prescription glasses, you likely need to be wearing them to, y'know, actually see. Let alone navigate around your screen or jot down notes.
Thankfully, my preferred posture on a video call can mitigate such visual hindrance.
Are you doin' the Rembrandt aka Vincent (van Gogh)?
For those countryfolk of my vintage, I often cite 80s VJ-bot Max Headroom.
For anyone younger (everyone), I quote the antithesis of the ramrod straight-on robo-news anchor autocue insincerity.
Namely best-practice is neither of those approaches, but instead sitting at an acute angle to the screen.
As opposed to being the typical 90º perpendicular full frontal assault, try instead anywhere between 30 and 60 degrees.
Such slight lateral angle can reduce the glare issue. and you still look at the screen. Yet in a more natural way.
After all, when in a meeting in-person, even one-on-one, do you ever sit truly opposite mirroring your co-meeter? Seldom.
Added bonus comes from the ease with which you can normalise making notes, using a second screen or turning to physically draw an idea out on a 'board' behind you.
And whilst this tip is primarily for action of the bespectacled, the ideal pose required is also optimal for those blessed with 20/20 vision.
It also helps engender that vital trust we're all after.
And let you drink that water in the dessert.