More MacOS Fails: Unexpected Video Call Reactions / Hand Gestures
Yet another opt-out feature that should have been opt-in
A while back I was invited into a Zoom call for a Q&A about a very difficult topic. I’m a very animated speaker in general, and I unconsciously use my hands a lot, especially when I’m emotional.
Suddenly, in the middle of describing something particularly intense and important to me, balloons appeared around me and floated up towards the top of the screen.
What the hell was going on?!
This happened a few more times during the call, and it was unsettling and disruptive. Not to mention embarrassing. After the call, I examined my Zoom settings, tried googling for Zoom gestures, but I found nothing relevant.
I scratched my head, shrugged, and tried to forget about it.
Some time passed, and my family and I were talking to my mother on WhatsApp when I unwittingly made another gesture, and we were treated to a fireworks / confetti display (I don’t recall which). In this very different context, we found the gestures hilarious and it’s since become a thing…
