HP Labs Technical Reports

An Analysis of the Spoken Aspects of Video Mediated Communication

O'Connaill, Brid; Whittaker, Steve

HPL-92-163(R.1)

Keyword(s):

Abstract: We present a method for comparing the spoken aspects of communication in two different types of video mediated meetings with spoken communication in face-to-face meetings. Based on an analysis of the media characteristics of face-to-face communication, we derive a set of predictions about how the spoken characteristics of communication will differ in these two systems, as compared with face-to-face communication. As predicted, we found that adding video can *detract* from spoken conversations when networking bandwidths are limited. Contrary to our expectations, however, we found that even high quality video does not replicate all properties of face-to-face communication and we attempt to explain why.

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