“All Eyes On Me”: User Perspective on Self-View in Work From Home Video Conferencing

Anonymous

Keywords: self-view, communication, video conferencing, working from home (WFH), COVID-19

TL;DR: The self-view feature of video call systems is an essential tool for professional self-presentation in the new normal

Abstract: Online video conferencing is not a new technology, yet its adoption for regular communication was stagnant until the mass migration to remote work made it the de facto platform for many professional and personal encounters. This rapid, forced migration presents an unrivalled opportunity to probe different features of video conferencing systems. We capture perspectives at the height of the 2021 COVID-19 pandemic. The results present in this paper outline a more nuanced view of self-view, highlighting its advantages and disadvantages and presenting suggestions for improvement. In 2021, participants used self-view as a tool for verifying positioning, background, and facial expressions during meetings. While past research indicates that self-view may be disruptive and inspire feelings of self-consciousness, this can be balanced by the reassurance that arises from being able to monitor one's self-presentation. The discussion demonstrates the cultural shift caused by the wide-spread adaption of VC technology and illustrates the fluidity of societal norms on the format of the interaction.

Track: HCI/visualization