Video Conferencing: Reactions of Users

Abstract

Three studies of video conferencing are reported. The first describes a video conferencing facility linking two locations about 35 miles apart, and summarizes the reactions of people who used it for naturally occurring conferences. This facility used conventional television cameras and monitors, and incorporated voice-activated switching among cameras to provide “close-up” video coverage of the person talking at any given time. The second study was a laboratory preference test to determine user opinions regarding positioning and viewing parameters of cameras and monitors for video conferencing. In this study, reduced bandwidth (1 MHz) equipment was used. The third study investigated the acceptability of a reduced bandwidth video conferencing facility by means of simulated conferences.