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Thoughts on Distance in Telecommunications

Skype and ichat have opened the amazing world of video chat to those
equipped high speed internet. Today in Softness we were discussing
reaching out to others via video chat, and the sense of distance felt
when doing so. Here are a few thoughts on video chat and line quality
(audio/visual quality, which is proportional to available bandwidth).

The distance felt in proportion to line quality is much like the
playability of video games. The original street fighter
had poor granularity of fine movements from joystick motions, and
lacked responsiveness from button presses compared to today's video
game systems. The quality of interaction enhances playability, and thus
the immersive qualities, and finally the overall fun of the game. The
same is true of line quality in relation to video chat. The better the
quality the more pleasurable the experience.

The quality of the line also effects the potential richness of
communication. If the sound and video are only good enough to relay blocky
video and poor audio, then making gestures or faces is probably the best
utilization; an attempt at a serious conversation will likely be
frustrating. The parties will still feel connected, but depth of their
communication will be severely restricted.

Excellent audio quality will facilitate complex conversations, where
accurate audibility is necessary for understanding subtle annunciation,
or done of voice. High quality video brings greater visual
comprehension. While having a virtual window connecting two spaces allows
the parties to share space and feel connected, the quality of the
connection will effect the depth and complexity of their interaction.

Audio and video itself, even at perfect quality cannot express the depth
of communication possible when two meet in the physical world. But what
are these differences? How are they affected by an upbringing of
immersion in virtual spaces?

-- Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:59 -0400