Video chats short-circuit a brain function essential for trust?
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Re: Video chats short-circuit a brain function essential for trust?
#2Two thoughts:
1. In my experience, I worked with a group that was adversarial until we began to use video conferencing and could see each other. The relationship became better after that (it was an internal validation group that was in another location). We could see each other and no quality of work was impacted. We ceased to be each other's boogeyman.
2. Many folks experienced video conferencing the first time at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, which is not representative of normal times.
I reckon that this singular view isn't capturing a lot of things.
Re: Video chats short-circuit a brain function essential for trust?
#3I am a surgeon, hospitals are seizing the online video call as a new miracle cost saver. Whilst some consultations are OK for routine encounters eg organising tests, when it comes to discussing surgery most patients value seeing the surgeon.
Re: Video chats short-circuit a brain function essential for trust?
#4Where is the research paper that found this "brain function short circuit"? The CBC article doesn't shed much light on the claim made in the title, and seems to link to a few different older papers.
Re: Video chats short-circuit a brain function essential for trust?
#5I don't think this is a surprise for many people who have been working with people in different offices for a while. I don't have any hard evidence but from my experience you can work with people in other offices for months, often getting the feeling that formality and lack of trust was getting in the way.
But then I burn a ton of fossil fuels to fly over and spend a couple of days with them in person and the discussion changes dramatically. It feels so silly that you need to damage the environment and spend so much money for something that logically seems the same. I am looking at someone's face and talking. But it works, it is so unreasonably effective that from time to time I need to fly just to see a colleague in person.
Re: Video chats short-circuit a brain function essential for trust?
#6It's funny that the original title for this article on CBC was actually "Zoom chats short circuit a brain function essential for trust: Don Pittis | CBC News" and the article only mentioned Zoom. :)
They changed the title and edited I guess after people pointed out that the research itself was not Zoom specific. I'm amazed how Zoom has become synonomous with "video conferencing" when there are so many other viable solutions available.
Re: Video chats short-circuit a brain function essential for trust?
#7It's funny that the original title for this article on CBC was actually "Zoom chats short circuit a brain function essential for trust: Don Pittis | CBC News" and the article only mentioned Zoom. :) They changed the title and edited I guess after people pointed out that the research itself was not Zoom specific. I'm amazed how Zoom has become synonomous with "video conferencing" when there are so many other viable so…
I completely agree. I had never heard of Zoom before this outbreak. It was always some other small video conferencing solution or GotoMeeting if it was official business.
Re: Video chats short-circuit a brain function essential for trust?
#8It's funny that the original title for this article on CBC was actually "Zoom chats short circuit a brain function essential for trust: Don Pittis | CBC News" and the article only mentioned Zoom. :) They changed the title and edited I guess after people pointed out that the research itself was not Zoom specific. I'm amazed how Zoom has become synonomous with "video conferencing" when there are so many other viable so…
I could see Zoom ending up like Kleenex or Jet Ski or Crock-Pot or Chapstick, where the brand name becomes the word for the thing itself.
Edit because I googled it for more examples and couldn't help myself: Tupperware, Band-Aids, Post-It, Slip n Slide, Xerox, Velcro, Weed Eater, Scotch Tape, Q-Tips, Rollerblades, Jacuzzi, Bubble Wrap.....
Re: Video chats short-circuit a brain function essential for trust?
#9Two thoughts: 1. In my experience, I worked with a group that was adversarial until we began to use video conferencing and could see each other. The relationship became better after that (it was an internal validation group that was in another location). We could see each other and no quality of work was impacted. We ceased to be each other's boogeyman. 2. Many folks experienced video conferencing the first time at t…
Regarding point 2
“Canadian research on "computer-mediated communication," begun long before the current lockdown, shows video chat is an inadequate substitute for real-life interaction. The real thing, dependant on non-verbal cues, is extraordinarily more effective in creating rapport and getting ideas across.”
Re: Video chats short-circuit a brain function essential for trust?
#10I've noticed that it takes a different effort to communicate digitally than in-person. I can talk to a person in a car as I drive, no problem. But talk (even hands-free) over a phone and it takes a lot more attention. As accident statistics point out.
Why is this? I think we're wired to interact in-person. When we try to talk to a person we can't sense directly, we have to build a brain model of them. That takes quite a bit more effort.
As an experiment I tried putting my hand up to block my passenger from view as I drove. Immediately I could tell I was paying less attention to the road, vividly. Just having them out of view, even peripherally, made for a different experience.