On 20/3/20 9:20 am, Roger Clarke wrote:

On 20/3/20 8:34 am, Tom Worthington wrote:

Tom, ... the vast majority of video transmitted during
video-conferencing is valueless ...

Perhaps we can have a very advanced form of compression which
identifies the usual meaningless platitudes, and replaces them with
text message type abbreviations. ;-)

... the feeling of being in (metaphorical) contact ...

I pointed out to tutors and students, that they need to project a sense of there being a person on the other end of the link. This can be done with a video conference, but also in other ways.

Individuals can turn off their video-uplink after meeting-commencement pleasantries have been completed. ...

It is a difficult point to get across to people: "What, I am not fascinating to look at?".

They can turn it back on during the (in most cases infrequent and fairly brief) episodes during which they are actively participating.

In a typical presentation, it makes sense to turn the video on at question time.

Indeed, flicking video back on, and showing a troubled face, is an effective, attention-drawing form of non-verbal communication ...

You need to be careful if you have audio on, and you make a noise,
whereupon the system enlarges you to full screen.

Service-providers can include, and promote ...  audio-only ...

Unfortunately it is difficult for the average user to understand video is not the most important. What sells the product is high definition, high frame rate, video.

... 'Are you *sure* you want to continue transmitting video and
burning up network capacity?'. ...

Perhaps something more positive: "You can earn 3 social credits ...".

I'm not criticising people for not thinking about this more often.

I did criticize people this week for poor use of a video conference and it did not go well. At the scheduled time I found a banner on screen, and people around the world waiting, each in their little video window, but no audio, and no presenter. When asked, the organizer said, "We are having morning tea, so we muted the audio, and will be with you in a few minutes".

In the interim they had left the video system burning through bits, and people around the world waiting, while the presenter, organizer and others were in a room spreading infection. When I expressed my displeasure at this, I was told they were all working very hard and I should be kind to them. What I would like to do is have them fired, and then detained under the health act, but instead I will attempt some polite positive suggestions.


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Tom Worthington, MEd FHEA FACS CP IP3P http://www.tomw.net.au
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Honorary Lecturer, Computer Science, Australian National University
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