View layout configuration for increasing eye contact in video communications

A computer-implemented method for providing an active pane within a communication platform, comprising:

• displaying a view menu, the view menu configured to receive a selection of a view layout, wherein the view layouts include a speaker view, a gallery view, and an active pane view;
• receiving, via the view menu, a selection of the active pane view;
• in response to receiving the selection of the active pane view, displaying a draggable active pane, wherein the active pane automatically switches between displaying video conference participants based on which video conference participant is speaking and the dimensions of the active pane are smaller than full screen;
• receiving a drag input from a user on the active pane and moving the active pane to a new location on the screen, the new location being near a camera capturing video of the user in the video conference;
• and
• displaying the active pane on the screen at the new location near the camera.

A non-transitory computer storage medium that stores executable program instructions that when executed by one or more computing devices, configures the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:

• displaying a view menu, the view menu configured to receive a selection of a view layout, wherein the view layouts include a speaker view, a gallery view, and an active pane view;
• receiving, via the view menu, a selection of the active pane view;
• in response to receiving the selection of the active pane view, displaying a draggable active pane, wherein the active pane automatically switches between displaying video conference participants based on which video conference participant is speaking and the dimensions of the active pane are smaller than full screen;
• receiving a user input from a user on the active pane and displaying a visual indicator at the location of the user input that the active pane is draggable;
• receiving a drag input from a user on the active pane and moving the active pane to a new location on the screen, the new location being near a camera capturing video of the user in the video conference;
• and
• displaying the active pane on the screen at the new location near the camera.