Zoom Decor for Pseudo-Intellectuals

[Ben]

This was extra funny to me, as I have of late been paying attention to backgrounds of interviewees on the various news and business shows. Since they are all "calling in" from home, they all seem to be taking extra steps to ensure their backgrounds make them look smart and trendy.

Anyway, this company rents books so that people can have full bookshelves in their Zoom backgrounds. 

Capitalism is entertaining at times. :)

https://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2020/12/26/books-by-the-foot-helps-dress-up-washington-d-c-bookshelves-to-make-better-zoom-backdrops/

[230RN]

I use a wrinkled bedsheet tacked to the wall.

What kind of rental background would a patient use for doing on-line medical exams?

[RoadKingLarry]

My son uses a green screen set up for his video game live stream thing that he does.
I think if I ever need to do a zoom call thing I'll borrow him and set myself up with the bridge of the Enterprise NCC-1701 as a backdrop.

[230RN]

My son uses a green screen set up for his video game live stream thing that he does.
I think if I ever need to do a zoom call thing I'll borrow him and set myself up with the bridge of the Enterprise NCC-1701 as a backdrop.

Complete with that annoying constant background of the ship's computer bididdle be beep?   And who you gonna get to play Uhuru?  (If I'm thinking of the right Trekky canon.)

Terry, 230RN

[lee n. field]

I didn't think my contempt could reach the level it has.

(To clarify, contempt for the poseurs using rented books for status.)

[griz]

I identify with this background:

[MillCreek]

I am reminded of the law firms that do interviews or client press conferences with a backdrop of the bound case reporters behind them.  No one has actually cracked one of those books in decades.  We all use digital searching by Lexis-Nexis or Westlaw now, but the books look impressive.

PS: My Zoom background is a shot of the LEM, Lunar Rover and James Irwin saluting on the Moon during the Apollo 15 mission.

[RocketMan]

PS: My Zoom background is a shot of the LEM, Lunar Rover and James Irwin saluting on the Moon during the Apollo 15 mission.

That is just flat awesome.

[MillCreek]

^^^

[Hawkmoon]

This was extra funny to me, as I have of late been paying attention to backgrounds of interviewees on the various news and business shows. Since they are all "calling in" from home, they all seem to be taking extra steps to ensure their backgrounds make them look smart and trendy.

Anyway, this company rents books so that people can have full bookshelves in their Zoom backgrounds. 

Why rent when you can own?

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=bookshelf+backdrops+for+photography&crid=24YRLHX3EU5QT&sprefix=Bookshelf+backdrops%2Caps%2C177&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-a-p_4_19

[Ben]

That is just flat awesome.

Yeah, that's a cool one. How did you set that up, Millcreek? I'm taking a "farming for idiots" class with the University extension next month, and on weather days we'll be zooming. It would be cool to set up a fun backdrop if it's not a big hassle.

[MillCreek]

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/210707503-Virtual-Background

Back in the early days of the pandemic, we were using Zoom for both patient appointments and work meetings.  We still use Zoom for the patients, but for work, we switched over to Microsoft Teams.  I have a variety of backgrounds there as well. Probably my favorite Teams background is the ISS cupola, so I look as if I am floating in space: https://www.roomforzoom.com/zoom/ISS-Cupola-View-of-Earth-from-space-339

[Perd Hapley]

I'm surprised they use actual books. I figured they'd just use some kind of cardboard cut-out. I wonder if they buy new. Lots of used books available, and plus they might actually look like they've been read.

[lee n. field]

I'm surprised they use actual books. I figured they'd just use some kind of cardboard cut-out. I wonder if they buy new. Lots of used books available, and plus they might actually look like they've been read.

culled library books are inexpensive.

[Ben]

I'm surprised they use actual books. I figured they'd just use some kind of cardboard cut-out. I wonder if they buy new. Lots of used books available, and plus they might actually look like they've been read.

I would assume they collect from thrift stores and wherever. The guy I goose hunt with is always dropping books off for me to read on military history that he gets from the Mormon used book store, and they all have $1 and $2 price tags on them.

Agree that used books would look more authentic, and at the price of new hardcover books, it doesn't seem profitable to buy new.

[RoadKingLarry]

Photography backdrops are pretty cheap
https://backdropoutlet.com/collections/architecture-backdrops?page=2

Of course you could go for the intimidation factor -
https://duckduckgo.com/?q=pile+of+skulls+backdrop&t=newext&atb=v247-1&iax=images&ia=images&iai=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pngmart.com%2Ffiles%2F5%2FPile-of-Skulls-Transparent-Background.png