Sometimes when I see these kinds of views, I think programmers that work on these kinds of software need to take sociology classes or psychology classes. Then I realize that that is way to abstract and that the problems are really something that should have been discovered throughout life.
Why to auto-answer video calls
21–25 of 25 posts
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#22Oh 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,…
It's a good point that there is a big difference between Internet communications and real life, and we're trying hard to address that difference.
There are a lot of nonverbal cues that you pick up in real life, and you pick up more of these with video than just with text or audio.
There are times when it's polite to knock, like if the office door is closed. If the door is open, or you're working in an open office, coworkers can generally just come and say hi. Working face to face is often best, but it's not possible for some people, and we're trying to enable some part of the working face to face experience for those people.
I know that it's hard to buy that auto-answering will help you be more efficient when working together, but together with automatic status detection, it works well for a lot of our early users. If you're ever in the situation where you want to work face to face with someone, but can't, then give us a try, and if it doesn't work for you, let us know why, and we'll try to build something that does.
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#23I 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…
If your tasks are basic, they are numerous, and that means a lot of communication, and that means you better be in the office. Besides, this basic crap is boring when done in solitude.
On the contrary, difficult problems (difficult not in integration, but in algorithm) require total concentration and absense of distractions. Therefore you better not be in the office, and (more heresy) be totally disconnected.
Turning off the interenet is a good thing sometimes.
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#24Oh 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,…
When I'm in my office, I can hear somebody coming so it is rare that I'm caught completely by surprise. For something like this to work, I'd want at least a 3 second delay and notification before the camera turned on. That might help some.
Re: Why to auto-answer video calls
#25Everything 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…
Upon reflection: I think automatic audio might be the better approach. Say "hey, you busy?" and either jump right into audio/video discussion, or dismiss without awkwardness or feeling intruded upon.