Real-time video for informal workgroup communication: a survey of recent advances

Abstract

Computer-based video is entering a new phase of development, in which, finally, it is being taken seriously as a new medium for human communication. Understanding of what a medium is useful for develops with experience, and typically after years of experimentation. This period of exploration can be viewed in terms of basic types of human communication, providing a framework for comparing the role of different media. This approach provides a useful context for surveying recent innovations in systems for remote collaboration based on video-mediated communication (VMC). Visual communication can be effectively used in a wide range of situations where users need to work closely, even when located at remote sites. In particular, support for unplanned, informal collaborations among distributed users is desirable in many contexts, using visual information to help users make contact more effectively. A case study of a system is presented which enables users interact over VMC using the same informal protocols as are used in face-to-face.