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The Configuration of Space: Probing the Way Social Interaction and Perception are Affected by Task-Specific Spatial Representations in Online Video Communication

Yihuan Chen, Kexue Fu, Qianyi Chen, Zhicong Lu, Ray LC

TL;DR

Spatial effects in the way participants hide from the spotlight, in perspective-taking, and in their use of expressive gestures in time on the screen are found.

Abstract

Humans live and act in 3D space, but often work and communicate on 2D surfaces. The prevalence of online communication on 2D screens raises the issue of whether human spatial configuration affects our capabilities, social perception, and behaviors when interacting with others in 2D video chat. How do factors like location, setting, and context subtly shape our online communication, particularly in scenarios such as social support and topic-based discussions? Using Ohyay.co as a platform, we compared a normal gallery interface with a scene-based Room-type interface where participants are located in circular arrangement on screen in a social support task, and found that participants allocated attention to the group as a whole, and had pronounced self-awareness in the Room format. We then chose a two-sided topic for discussion in the Gallery interface and the Room interface where participants on each team face-off against each other, and found that they utilized spatial references to orient their allegiances, expressing greater engagement with those farther away in digital space and greater empathy with those closer, in the Room over the Gallery format. We found spatial effects in the way participants hide from the spotlight, in perspective-taking, and in their use of expressive gestures in time on the screen. This work highlights the need for considering spatial configuration in 2D in the design of collaborative communication systems to optimize for psychological needs for particular tasks.

The Configuration of Space: Probing the Way Social Interaction and Perception are Affected by Task-Specific Spatial Representations in Online Video Communication

TL;DR

Spatial effects in the way participants hide from the spotlight, in perspective-taking, and in their use of expressive gestures in time on the screen are found.

Abstract

Humans live and act in 3D space, but often work and communicate on 2D surfaces. The prevalence of online communication on 2D screens raises the issue of whether human spatial configuration affects our capabilities, social perception, and behaviors when interacting with others in 2D video chat. How do factors like location, setting, and context subtly shape our online communication, particularly in scenarios such as social support and topic-based discussions? Using Ohyay.co as a platform, we compared a normal gallery interface with a scene-based Room-type interface where participants are located in circular arrangement on screen in a social support task, and found that participants allocated attention to the group as a whole, and had pronounced self-awareness in the Room format. We then chose a two-sided topic for discussion in the Gallery interface and the Room interface where participants on each team face-off against each other, and found that they utilized spatial references to orient their allegiances, expressing greater engagement with those farther away in digital space and greater empathy with those closer, in the Room over the Gallery format. We found spatial effects in the way participants hide from the spotlight, in perspective-taking, and in their use of expressive gestures in time on the screen. This work highlights the need for considering spatial configuration in 2D in the design of collaborative communication systems to optimize for psychological needs for particular tasks.
Paper Structure (28 sections, 6 figures, 1 table)

This paper contains 28 sections, 6 figures, 1 table.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Related Work
  3. Evolution of Spatial Cues in Video Communication Tools
  4. Spatial Configuration and User Interaction
  5. Perception of Space in Computer-Mediated Communication
  6. Method
  7. Study Set-up
  8. Participants
  9. Study Design
  10. Procedure
  11. Data Collection: Interview
  12. Data Analysis: Video and Interview
  13. Qualitative Results
  14. Gathering and processing spatial information using visual cues
  15. Tagging the participants with a spatial location.
  16. ...and 13 more sections

Figures (6)

  • Figure 1: Study setup for four conditions
  • Figure 2: Glance behaviors reported by Room participants. The participant who reported this glance behavior is marked with a red rectangle. The arrow illustrates the direction of the glance.
  • Figure 3: Glance behaviors reported by Gallery participants. The participant who reported this glance behavior is marked with a red rectangle. The arrow illustrates the direction of the glance.
  • Figure 4: Social Support - gallery: Participant utilized spatial information to interact with others.
  • Figure 5: A spatial metaphor was made by the participants: "Sitting at the corner of the Gallery is like sitting at the back rows of the classroom."
  • ...and 1 more figures