TY - JOUR T1 - Hanging on the 'Wire: A Field Study of an Audio-only Media Space JF - ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction Y1 - 1997 A1 - Mark S. Ackerman A1 - Starr, Brian A1 - Hindus, Debby A1 - Scott D. Mainwaring KW - audio KW - audio spaces KW - CMC KW - computer-mediated communication KW - electronic social spaces KW - media spaces KW - mediated communication KW - norms KW - privacy KW - rich interactions KW - social interactions KW - social presence KW - speech interactions KW - telepresence AB -

The primary focus of this article is an analysis of an audio-only media space from a computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) perspective. To explore whether audio by itself is suitable for shared media systems, we studied a workgroup using an audio-only media space. This media space, called Thunderwire, combined high-quality audio with open connec-tions to create a shared space for its users. The two-month field study provided a richly nuanced understanding of this audio spaces social use. The system afforded rich sociable interactions. As well, users were able to create a useful, usable social space; however, through an analysis of the social norms that the participants formulated, we show that they had to take into account being in an audio-only environment. Within the field study, then, audio by itself was sufficient for a usable media space and a useful social space, but users were forced to adapt to many audio-only and system conditions. The article also considers audios implications for privacy.

VL - 4 UR - Complete IS - 1 ER - TY - CONF T1 - Thunderwire: A Field Study of an Audio-only Media Space T2 - Proceedings of the 1996 ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW'96) Y1 - 1996 A1 - Hindus, Debby A1 - Mark S. Ackerman A1 - Scott D. Mainwaring A1 - Starr, Brian KW - audio KW - audio spaces KW - CMC KW - computer-mediated communication KW - electronic social spaces KW - media spaces KW - mediated communication KW - norms KW - rich interactions KW - social interactions KW - social presence KW - speech interactions KW - telepresence AB -

To explore the potential of using audio by itself in a shared media system, we studied a workgroup using an audio-only media space. This media space, called Thunderwire, combined high-quality audio with open connections to create a shared space for its users. The two-month field study provided a richly nuanced understanding of this audio space's social use. The system afforded rich sociable interactions. Indeed, within the field study, audio by itself afforded a telepresent environment for its users. However while a usable media space and a useful social space, Thunderwire required its users to adapt to many audio-only conditions.

JF - Proceedings of the 1996 ACM Conference on Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW'96) UR - Complete ER -