Why to auto-answer video calls
blog.quicklychat.com
Why to auto-answer video calls
1–10 of 25 posts
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#2I like this. I think people frequently underestimate the disadvantages of having team members work from home. Sure, basic tasks can be done remotely ("set up this database xy, perform maintenance work here etc") but all other tasks require collaboration. Having everyone in IRC will help, but it is not the same. People will not talk to each other the same. This is where video, instead of Skype calls or similar, might really help.
Edit: By all means put up screenshots so one can see what this app looks like.
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#3If I recall correctly, Skype has an auto-answering video call feature.
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#4Oh hell no. There is, as is noted, a big difference between Internet communications and actually being there. But auto-answering calls doesn't help that; instead, it removes the advantages of these kinds of communications without really introducing any of the advantages of face to face.
Face to face works so well because there are so many unconscious cues we can pick up on. There's a whole other channel of nonverbal, subconscious communication. That isn't really picked up over videoconferencing, so all you'll get are unwanted work interruptions at best, and some really embarrassing situations at worst.
It's polite to knock on a colleague's office door; I don't see ringing before a call as being different. If you need to work face to face, work face to face.
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#5So much for coding in the shower.
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#6About the product itself[1], I don't think I would be comfortable with coworkers being able to glean if I'm on an IDE or Hacker News.
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#7Everything said here is absolutely correct, and yet getting people to actually adopt this practice is going to be a fight up-hill. Here's why:
- Many people will get nervous about the idea that someone can instantly watch them without warning, and simply refuse to buy in.
- Coworkers will start playing pranks at who they can spy on without them noticing, catching someone at an embarrassing moment, or snapping photos of the dumb look on someone's face when they're in deep focus.
- At most companies, there isn't just one person who needs to get ahold of you. If I walk to your desk and there's someone there already, I come back later. Auto-video lets you see one person only, rather than the whole environment.
- It's awkward to show your face, see they're busy and disappear, especially multiple times, and eventually you'll stop trying and just send an email. At most organizations, the good times to just barge in are rare, and the miss-to-hit ratio will get quickly discouraging.
All that said, I applaud the goal, and I might try using this anyway. I've worked with people remotely often and have wondered about how to establish the correct social conventions for chat/audio/video to mitigate some of the loss of subtle information cues you take for granted in an office environment. Keep experimenting, there is promise to the core idea.
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#8Is there a Linux client on the horizon?
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#9Is there a Linux client on the horizon?
There is. We actually have a really early version in the works. Email me (yuranlu@quicklychat.com) if you'd like to help us beta test it.
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#10About the product itself[1], I don't think I would be comfortable with coworkers being able to glean if I'm on an IDE or Hacker News. [1] http://www.quicklychat.com/
The SmartStatus is actually fully configurable, so you can choose which applications/websites you appear red/yellow/green for. So if you set Hacker News and your IDE to the same color, then your coworkers won't be able to tell :-)