50 research outputs found

    Preserving Communication Context. Virtual workspace and interpersonal space in Japanese CSCW.

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    The past decade has seen the development of a perspective\ud holding that technology is socially constructed (Mackenzie and Wacjman, 1985; Bijker, Hughes and Pinch, 1987; Bijker and Law, 1992). This paper examines the social construction of one group of technologies, systems for computer supported cooperative work (CSCW). It describes the design of CSCW in Japan, with particular attention to the influence of culture on the design process. Two case studies are presented to illustrate the argument that culture is an important factor in technology design, despite commonly held assumptions about the neutrality and objectivity of science and technology. The paper further argues that, by looking at\ud CSCW systems as texts which reflect the context of their production and the society from which they come, we may be better able to understand the transformations that operate when these texts are “read” in the contexts of their implementation

    FocalSpace: Multimodal Activity Tracking, Synthetic Blur and Adapative Presentation for Video Conferencing

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    We introduce FocalSpace, a video conferencing system that dynamically recognizes relevant activities and objects through depth sensing and hybrid tracking of multimodal cues, such as voice, gesture, and proximity to surfaces. FocalSpace uses this information to enhance users' focus by diminishing the background through synthetic blur effects. We present scenarios that support the suppression of visual distraction, provide contextual augmentation, and enable privacy in dynamic mobile environments. Our user evaluation indicates increased memory accuracy and user preference for FocalSpace techniques compared to traditional video conferencing

    Can small be beautiful? assessing image resolution requirements for mobile TV

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    Mobile TV services are now being offered in several countries, but for cost reasons, most of these services offer material directly recoded for mobile consumption (i.e. without additional editing). The experiment reported in this paper, aims to assess the image resolution and bitrate requirements for displaying this type of material on mobile devices. The study, with 128 participants, examined responses to four different image resolutions, seven video encoding bitrates, two audio bitrates and four content types. The results show that acceptability is significantly lower for images smaller than 168Ă—126, regardless of content type. The effect is more pronounced when bandwidth is abundant, and is due to important detail being lost in the smaller screens. In contrast to previous studies, participants are more likely to rate image quality as unacceptable when the audio quality is high

    Comparison of Face-to-Face and Video-Mediated Communication with Deaf Individuals: Implications for Telepsychotherapy

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    Telecommunications and videoconference systems are increasingly replacing face-to-face communication (F2F). Video-mediated communication (VMC) offers the benefit of virtual F2F communication over long distances. The purpose of this study was to compare communication performance and perceptions for deaf individuals in F2F and VMC situations using a Map Task. Deaf participants were instructed by a deaf instructor using American Sign Language to mark routes. There were no significant differences in the length of sessions, almost all communication breakdown events, map task deviations, and overall outcomes. The results suggest that effective communication can occur in VMC situations. Research is needed to gauge the effectiveness of VMC conditions in the delivery of mental health services including telepsychotherapy to deaf individuals who may not have access to local signing mental health services providers

    Situated Displays in Telecommunication

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    In face to face conversation, numerous cues of attention, eye contact, and gaze direction provide important channels of information. These channels create cues that include turn taking, establish a sense of engagement, and indicate the focus of conversation. However, some subtleties of gaze can be lost in common videoconferencing systems, because the single perspective view of the camera doesn't preserve the spatial characteristics of the face to face situation. In particular, in group conferencing, the `Mona Lisa effect' makes all observers feel that they are looked at when the remote participant looks at the camera. In this thesis, we present designs and evaluations of four novel situated teleconferencing systems, which aim to improve the teleconferencing experience. Firstly, we demonstrate the effectiveness of a spherical video telepresence system in that it allows a single observer at multiple viewpoints to accurately judge where the remote user is placing their gaze. Secondly, we demonstrate the gaze-preserving capability of a cylindrical video telepresence system, but for multiple observers at multiple viewpoints. Thirdly, we demonstrated the further improvement of a random hole autostereoscopic multiview telepresence system in conveying gaze by adding stereoscopic cues. Lastly, we investigate the influence of display type and viewing angle on how people place their trust during avatar-mediated interaction. The results show the spherical avatar telepresence system has the ability to be viewed qualitatively similarly from all angles and demonstrate how trust can be altered depending on how one views the avatar. Together these demonstrations motivate the further study of novel display configurations and suggest parameters for the design of future teleconferencing systems

    Spatial displays for visual awareness of remote locations

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    Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, School of Architecture and Planning, Program in Media Arts and Sciences, 2009.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. [113]-116).uCom enables remote users to be visually aware of each other using "spatial displays" - live views of a remote space assembled according to an estimate of the remote space's layout. The main elements of the system design are a 3D representation of each space and a multi-display physical setup. The 3D image-based representation of a space is composed of an aggregate of live video feeds acquired from multiple viewpoints and rendered in a graphical visualization resembling a 3D collage. Its navigation controls allow users to transition among the remote views, while maintaining a sense of how the images relate in 3D space. Additionally, the system uses a configurable set of displays to portray always-on visual connections with a remote site integrated into the local physical environment. The evaluation investigates to what extent the system improves users' understanding of the layout of a remote space.by Ana Luisa de Araujo Santos.S.M

    On the Challenges of Collaborative Data Processing

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    The last 30 years have seen the creation of a variety of electronic collaboration tools for science and business. Some of the best-known collaboration tools support text editing (e.g., wikis). Wikipedia's success shows that large-scale collaboration can produce highly valuable content. Meanwhile much structured data is being collected and made publicly available. We have never had access to more powerful databases and statistical packages. Is large-scale collaborative data analysis now possible? Using a quantitative analysis of Web 2.0 data visualization sites, we find evidence that at least moderate open collaboration occurs. We then explore some of the limiting factors of collaboration over data.Comment: to appear as a chapter in an upcoming book (Collaborative Information Behavior
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