OfficeWalker: A Video Mediated Communication System Supporting Unintended Interactions among Distributed Offices

摘要

There have been a number of experiments conducted to evaluate video communication as a technology for supporting informal communications among distributed organizations. These systems use video links for checking availability of recipients prior to conversation to reduce the reluctance of starting conversations, and as the triggers of unintended interactions with unexpected communication partners. In this paper, we focused on two issues, the problem of intrusiveness that occurs when a caller glances at a recipient, and the failure of triggering unintended interactions. We propose an interaction model that solves these two problems by introducing sense of distance among users. Then we show our prototype system called Office Walker that embodied this model, and conducted an user experiment to examine these issues, as well as effects on communication frequency. The result of our experiment showed that the problem of intrusiveness was drastically improved. Subjects could freely glance at recipients without interrupting recipients' activity. We also observed that 25/100 of communications between two groups of subjects occurred in an unintended manner. Frequency of asking questions was significantly increased by introducing Office Walker.