Video as a technology for informal communication

The degree to which visual communication shares some of the attributes of face-to-face informal communication - its frequency, expressiveness, and interactivity - was addressed in the context of a 4-week field experiment in which temporary employees and their supervisors and mentors at Bellcore used an audio and video conferencing prototype called the Cruiser system. The evaluation found that people used the Cruiser system frequently, almost as much as the telephone, even though it provided access to fewer people. The use of the system and perceptions of it were more similar to intentional telephone calls than to the spontaneous and informal communication supported by face-to-face interaction. However, users judged Cruiser interactions to be more invasive of privacy than face-to-face interactions. Once conversations started over the Cruiser system, they were less adequate for accomplishing work than face-to-face conversations.