Patterns of Domestic Video Mediated Communication

Families have a basic need to stay connected to each other. When families are separated by distance, they turn to communication technologies to stay connected with loved ones. However, most technologies do not provide the same feelings of connectedness that one feels from seeing loved ones. This dissertation explored the design and use of video-based technologies to allow families to communicate and remain connected across distance.

The first part of this dissertation explored families' use of video mediated communication (VMC) systems and focused on determining design factors that are critical for its successful adoption. This research was conducted in three phases.

Phase 1 explored families' use of a current VMC system, namely video conferencing, to uncover how and why families' use this technology to communicate with loved ones. An interview study led to findings about families' communication practices using video conferencing systems. These included initiating communication using other technologies prior to engaging in a video call, and sharing activities in each other's homes. Design recommendations that emerged from this study highlight the need for mechanisms in VMC systems that allow families to easily initiate communication and easily share everyday life.

In Phase 2, design recommendations from Phase 1 were used to design and implement a dyadic VMC system with always-on video called the Family Window (FW). A field evaluation of the system uncovered a mix of practices, some similar to the use of video conferencing systems, for example to share activities, and some new practices that were made possible by the always-on video system. Design recommendations from this field evaluation highlight the importance of dedicated displays, mobility, and privacy controlling mechanisms. In Phase 3, design recommendations from the evaluation of the FW were used to design, implement, and evaluate a multifamily VMC system with called Family Portals.

The second part of this dissertation describes the codification of families' communication and awareness practices using VMC systems, into patterns and a pattern language. These communication and awareness practices were codified into Patterns of Practices that can be used as a design tool to design technologies for domestic communication and as a vocabulary to describe domestic communication practices.