Digital backchannels in shared physical spaces: attention, intention and contention

There are a variety of digital tools for enabling people who are separated by time and space to communicate and collaborate on shared interests and tasks. The widespread use of some of these tools, such as instant messaging and group chat, coupled with the increasingly widespread availability of wireless access to the Internet (WiFi), have created new opportunities for using these collaboration tools by people sharing physical spaces in real time. The use of these tools to augment face-to-face meetings has created benefits for some participants and distractions—and detractions—for others. Our panelists will discuss some of the advantages and disadvantages of these emerging uses of collaborative tools. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.5.3 Group and Organization Interfaces: Computer-Supported Cooperative Work. General Terms Management, Design, Human Factors. Keywords Groupware, communityware, computer-mediated communication, chat, instant messaging, informal communication, multi...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2004
• Where: CSCW
• Authors: Joseph F. McCarthy, Danah Boyd, Elizabeth F. Churchill, William G. Griswold, Elizabeth Lawley, Melora Zaner
• Keywords: CSCW 2004, Distractions—and Detractions—for Others, Instant Messaging, Social Sciences, Tools