Life hack: how to avoid useless meetings with Zoom

Many companies conduct meetings via Zoom via video conferencing - and often you don't need your presence at all, but rules are rules. However, Twitter found a way to escape such meetings without the knowledge of the boss.

To do this, use the "virtual background" function. First, Kate Buckley published a video in which her husband literally leaves the frame - while the background with his image remains.

Zoom pro tip 1: Backgrounds are customizable.
Zoom pro tip 2: You can customize yourself right out of that meeting. pic.twitter.com/rV1KAyDEgF

- Kate Buckley (@EchinoKate) March 17, 2020

Of course, a static picture will not fool anyone, so David Zhou complemented the perfect crime by showing that video can also be downloaded in Zoom (with reservations, but more on that later).

Zoom pro tip 3: make it a video background to have a convincing loop of you looking engaged https://t.co/qBGZSpLUIFpic.twitter.com/exNM1TXk8I

- David Zhou (@dz) March 18, 2020

The author of the original video also posted an improved version of the technique.

Version 3 is working on improving the ability to loop the video without notice. pic.twitter.com/246QimREmg

- Matthew Buckley (@ MrBuckley98) March 18, 2020

In the comments people celebratethat they saw their colleagues do this during meetings - so this is not something new, but a trick that has become relevant again.

This is easy enough if you have some free time.

1. The first thing you need to do is record video from webcam, in which you mostly sit still, but sometimes show a reaction: nod, thoughtfully rub your chin or the bridge of your nose, look away, etc. The most difficult thing is that the video should loop normally - that is, your position in the frame at the beginning and end should be as large as possible the same. It will most likely take several tries, but this is real.
2. Now you have a video - but Zoom can only work with images, so you need to convert to GIF. For this you can use Drop to GIF or similar services. An alternative way is to record yourself directly to GIF (only works on Windows).
3. Check the file size. Zoom accepts files up to 5MB in size - so if your image is larger, use services like Ezgifto shrink it.
4. Open the Zoom client.
5. Click on the profile icon and select "Settings".
6. Open the "Virtual Background" section and select the GIF image you made earlier.
7. Done! Now in all video chats you will have the opportunity to slip out of the frame unnoticed.

Important: This method will work only if you are sure that you are not required to participate in the meeting. If they turn to you, but you are not at the computer, colleagues will instantly understand what is the matter. Better not to risk your career again. Also, if you plan to do this often, do not forget to update the video - otherwise everyone will think that you wear the same clothes throughout the quarantine.