Virtual and blurred backgrounds can be useful to add privacy during your Video Call. This can be especially useful if you are joining a call from a public space or working from home and want other participants to focus on you, not your background. Please ensure you have sufficient lighting to enable the virtual background to work effectively.

You can select a blur or virtual background from the Settings section in the Video Call screen. There are three levels of blur and seven preset virtual backgrounds to choose from. 

Once you select your desired background, this setting will be remembered for subsequent Video Calls when using the same browser and device, however you can change your selection at any time during a call.

For information regarding Apple Virtual backgrounds when using macOS Sequoia, click here (please note, this option is not using healthdirect Video Call technology and is an Apple product).

This video demonstrates the blur and pre-set virtual background options:

Background selection options:

Join a call with a patient or client and click on the Settings cog, at the bottom left of the call screen. Then click on Select background in the Settings drawer.

Blur
There are 3 levels of Blur to choose from:

Light
Medium
Heavy

Hovering over the 3 blur options displays text showing the level of blur. Choose the desired level of blur and your background will update in the Video Call screen.
Please note: there is no ability to apply a blur to your background when using an iPhone or iPad (iOS device) for your Video Call. iOS users can, however, apply a Virtual Background (shown below).

Preset virtual backgrounds
There are 7 preset virtual backgrounds to choose from, 
Click the desired background, which will be applied in the Video Call screen.

Custom virtual background
A custom background allows you to personalise your video feed for Video Call. To upload a custom virtual background from your device or computer, click on Settings > Select background and click on the camera icon. Navigate to the desired image on your computer or device, select it and click 'open' to apply it to your video feed and add it to your background options. 

Please note: Depending on the device type and sizes of screens the Video call will display a different size of video. When creating a a custom virtual background, it will work best if created with the following specifications:

• Aspect Ratio 16:9
• Dimensions: 1280 x 720 pixels
• This example image shows the distance from the edges of the image that any essential information should be placed, to ensure it displays on all screens. The area inside the black box on this example will always be shown no matter the display size. 

Close the Settings drawer once you have selected the desired virtual background. This setting will be remembered for subsequent Video Calls when using the same device and web browser, and you can change your selection at any time during a call.