NYNEX portholes: initial user reactions and redesign implications

The prevalence of audio and video options on computers, coupled with the promise of bandwidth, have many prognosticators predicting a revolution in human communications. But what if the revolution materializes and no users show up? We were confronted with this question when we began deploying and studying the use of a video-based, background awareness application within our organization. Repeatedly, new users raised strong concerns about self-presentation, surveillance, privacy, video snapshots, and lack of audience cues. We describe how we addressed these concerns by evolving the application. As a consequence, we are also redesigning the user interface to the application. Keywords Awareness, audience, collaboration, design, glance, portholes, privacy, reciprocity, surveillance, Web.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1997
• Where: GROUP
• Authors: Alison Lee, Andreas Girgensohn, Kevin Schlueter
• Keywords: Applied Computing, Background Awareness Application, GROUP 1997, Human Communications, Video Options