Video as a technology for interpersonal communications: a new perspective

Steve Whittaker, Arturo A. Rodriguez, Jacek Maitan
1995 Multimedia Computing and Networking 1995  
This paper evaluates the role of video in interpersonal communications. We review three distinct hypotheses about the utility of video. The prevailing assumption has been that the role of video is to enhance audio, as embodied in applications such as videoconferencing and videophone. We review evidence for this hypothesis and conclude that previous work has overestimated the importance of video at the expense of audio. This finding that has strong implications for the implementation of
more » ... and synchronisation in such systems. Furthermore our own recent studies of workplace interaction point to other applications of video. Current systems have neglected another potentially vital function of visual information in achieving opportunistic connection. In this new class of application, rather than providing a supplement to audio information, video is used to assess the communication availability of others. Visual information therefore promotes the opportunistic communications that are prevalent in face-to-face settings. We discuss early experiments with such connection applications and identify outstanding design and implementation issues. Finally we discuss another novel application of video: "video-as-data". Here the video image is used to transmit information about the work objects themselves, rather than information about interactants. THE ENHANCED AUDIO HYPOTHESIS The premise underlying many real time audio and video applications is to provide distributed groups with a substitute for face-to-face interaction. For most office workers, face-to-face interaction is a frequent workplace activity and for many jobs such as management it represents the most frequent workplace activity. Questionnaire and observational data produce estimates of between 35% and 75% of time being spent in face-to-face interaction, where the variation is due to job type 23 . However trends towards telework, mobile work and the globalisation of business are geographically separating workers and making such communication difficult to achieve. The premise of technologies such as the videophone and
doi:10.1117/12.206055 fatcat:xkjro52b3jgbdd4xgod7xv7ofi