Recently I was in an audio call in which the person had enabled a customized video background . It was designed to allow users to concentrate on the speaker . However, it ended up being extremely distracting for me, as someone with poor vision. the dim light conditions of the speaker along with the bright backdrop made it so that it was difficult for me to focus on the speaker. It caused eye strain until I had to switch off the video. But I was on another conference call and the custom background helped me concentrate better on the speaker and allow me to concentrate more attentively than I could have done without the background. Here are my suggestions to select the most effective custom video backgrounds for low-vision users on platforms such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
Why would you want to use custom backgrounds?
While it could sound as if that I do not like background videos that are custom-designed, but I think that they are an extremely beneficial tool if employed using accessibility design principles keeping accessibility in mind. Some of the advantages of having custom video backgrounds are:
Blocking unclean backgrounds or people who are in the background
Ensuring that audiences are able to concentrate on the speaker and not the background
Be careful not to share private information that could show up in the background
It will make users appear more professional, based what background they pick
Display your art or other design abilities
Custom backgrounds could cause confusion for low-vision viewers
While custom video backgrounds are beneficial for people with low vision, they can cause confusion at times. The ways in which custom video backgrounds may be confusing are:
Designing with bright or busy colors that are difficult to concentrate on
Certain patterns, particularly small ones, may trigger vertigo for some people.
Based on background and lighting, it may be difficult to tell what the individual is doing.
Low lighting conditions are more apparent and create low contrast with backgrounds
Backgrounds might not render properly and create undesirable visual effects.
If you can, choose images or colors with excellent contrast
My most valuable piece of advice to select a custom background video Banuba that are suitable for low vision viewers is to select pictures and colors that offer adequate clarity between your speaker and background. While I’m not able to suggest an all-purpose backdrop that works in every circumstance, it is important to make sure that the background image doesn’t be a distraction to clothes or hair and the speaker is in front of front and. The browsing Pantone colors using Google Images can be a fantastic way to identify the color that matches the speaker. I’ve tried Classic Blue in a few calls for myself, which happens to be the Pantone color of the year for 2020.
Avoid backgrounds that are primarily neon or white.
In a conference that which I was a part of, the speaker used a blank white background, which was extremely difficult to stare at for prolonged periods and caused my eyes to become exhausted quite quickly. One of my acquaintances was experiencing the same problem, where their professor was giving an entire class lecture on a vibrant green backdrop, and they were forced to shut off their laptop and sit through the remainder of the lecture due to the intensity of the color was too strong. Intense or bright colors for extended periods of time can cause migraines for some people therefore it is best to stay clear of them when feasible.
Do not use backgrounds that contain photos of people.
One of the major advantages of having custom background videos is they make it easier to concentrate on the speaker. Hence, having a background with pictures of faces or people could make it even harder to focus. A student I was working with told me about how her teacher had created a customized background that included pictures of all the pupils behind them. They had a hard time trying to focus on the hand gestures that their teacher was using because the faces were all over displayed on the screen.
The best backgrounds to choose from
The most effective kinds of customized video backgrounds designed for low-vision viewers are:
Nature photos with high-resolution
Simple color swatches
Patterns or images that calm you
Black background with accent colors
Northern lights
Photos of rooms that are currently in use as offices (one of my buddies took a picture from the series “The Office” to illustrate this)
Rice paper patterns
Pictures of walls
Users can locate images that match their requirements by searching for these keywords using Google Images or similar websitesI suggest keeping the images to a folder, or in a gallery to ensure ease of access.
A brief description of how to select the most appropriate custom video backgrounds for low-vision viewers
Customized backgrounds can benefit users block distracting backgrounds or other people in the background. This will help in privacy while keeping a professional appearance
Backgrounds that are custom-designed can prove confusing for people with low vision if they are cluttered with patterns and poor lighting conditions contrast, or do not render properly and start to flicker
When possible, use images and colors that have a excellent contrast
Beware of backgrounds that are predominantly neon or white.
Avoid backgrounds that contain photos of people.
The most effective types of backgrounds to choose are photos of rooms or walls simple colors or patterns and patterns that soothe or similar options
Menu
Copyright – Flame Radio Business Network