Blurring and Adding Video Background to Thalamus Video

Thalamus Video provides applicants and program users with the ability to blur or add a virtual background while engaging in their interviews. This guide will provide you with the steps on how to update your background. 

Accessing Thalamus Video

1. Select the "Schedule" tab and then "My Schedule" from the drop-down menu to view the scheduled interview sessions.
   

2. Navigate to the correct interview session by selecting the interview session on the left navigation menu or by using the arrows at the top of the page

3. If you are scheduled for multiple interview sessions on the same day, you will see multiple rows within the page.  The following is accessible within each row:

   1. Itinerary session information including name, time, and date

   2. Applicant information that will include Applicant Name, Medical School, AAMC ID and Email

4. If a Thalamus virtual interview session has been scheduled, you will see the "Join Meeting" button.  Click "Join Meeting" to enter the virtual interview session. 
   Note: The preferred browser for using the Thalamus Virtual Interview Platform is Chrome. Important note: Internet Explorer is not a supported browser for Thalamus Video.
   
   

Updating the Background Settings

1. A new tab will open in your browser taking you to the Join Meeting page where you will be able to select and save the camera, microphone, and virtual settings (use the scroll bar on the right to scroll up and down to view all settings if necessary).
   

2. You must save your camera, microphone and background settings to join your first meeting. These settings will be saved locally on your device and browser, and you will be able to join subsequent meetings without reselecting camera, microphone and background settings.

   • For Mac device users see Allow Thalamus Video to Access your Camera, Microphone and Screenshare on Mac

3. Go to the section titled "Background Effects."

4. From the options, users may select between three background effects, listed below. Upon making a selection, your video preview will update in real time to reflect the selected background effect:

   1. None: No background effect will be added

   2. Blur: Will blur background from any visible view

   3. Upload Image: Allows the user to option to upload an image of their choosing as a background
      

5. If users have selected the “Upload Image" option, this will open a file folder window, where you are able to select an image from your computer to upload as a background.
   Note: The file size should be no more than 10MB and the supported file types are .jpeg, .jpg, .png and .gif
   

6. Once the image has been selected it should now show in the box to the right. The background image will also update in your video preview, visible to all participants in the meeting. 

7. If you have uploaded an incorrect image or would no longer like that image to appear as a background, click the "X" icon in the upper right hand corner of the "Image" box. 
   

8. Once settings have updated, the “Save Settings” button will now be enabled, and you will now be able to join your meeting. Note that the selection of your virtual background settings will be saved on both your local device and user account, meaning that if you join a meeting using the same account but a different device, the updated settings will be reflected.