Combating Videoconference Fatigue: A Pilot Study on the Effects of Video Layouts

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced people to work, study, and communicate remotely, leading to a surge in the popularity of videoconferencing. However, prolonged and/or inappropriate use of videoconferencing tools may result in videoconferencing fatigue (VCF). This work-in-progress paper proposes an experimental research design which aims to determine how different video layouts are associated with VCF. A pilot study explored the impact of different video layouts on VCF, stress, engagement, and multitasking during a videoconferencing session. The pilot study, despite its limitations, offers first insights into the effects of video layouts on the well-being of participants and can provide a foundation for future research.