Paper Reading #5: Intimacy in Long-Distance Relationships over Video Chat

Reference Information

Carman Neustaedter, Saul Greenberg. "Intimacy in Long-Distance Relationships over Video Chat." University of Calgary and Simon Fraser University, 05 May 2012. Web. 05 Sept. 2012.

Authors

Carman Neutaedter: Teaches at the School of Interactive Arts + Technology with a degree from Simon Fraser University in Surrey, BC, Canada.

Saul Greenberg: In the department of Computer Science at the University of Calgary

Article Summary

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The authors of this paper talked about using technology to bridge the gap in a long distance relationship. Although it's been possible for years, the authors talked about the problem of a loss of intimacy when communicating through this way. Although widely done, especially among students, this form of communication slowly fades over time as the users become tired of it.

The studies talked about people who usually had video sessions, where users allocated one or two hours of their day of video chatting with their significant other. Depending on the type of communication needed, they found that users found it inconvenient to use video chats with uncomfortable conversations or quick messages. Users who routinely did it were often found to be less intimate with each other than users who used it for long periods of time or users who just used it as a one-time thing.

From users connecting at work to private conversations with a significant other, the authors found that it was best to have a constant connection with each other open over a long period of time. By convincing themselves and making it a routine part of their day, it would allow them to be more natural with each other. With this method, intimate gestures would be more comfortably done, and the message would be convened.

Related Work

This was a hard subject to find related work on, but I did find a few on the authors conclusion. A video window open up over a long period of time had different effects on users.

• Alexander, Ljung, Eric Wahlforss. Sensation: A Presence Enabler for Long-Distance Relationships using Skype and Visual Presence Representation
• Diana Mok, Barry Wellman. Does distance Still MAtter in the Age of the Internet?
• Scott Golder, Dennis Wilkinson. Rhythms of social interaction: messaging within a MMO Network
• Irina Shklovski, Robery Kraut. Keeping in Touch By Technology: Maintaining Frienships after a Residual Move
• Kately McKenna, Amie Green, Marci E. Gleason. Relationship Formation on the Internet: What's the Big Attraction?
• Shanyang Zhao. The Internet and the Transformation of the Reality of Everyday Life
• Kaveri Subrahmanyam, Patricia Greenfield. Online Communication and Adolescent Relationships
• Daria Kuss, Mark Griffiths. Online Social Networking and the Psychological Addicion
• David DeAndrea, Stephanie Tom Tong. Mediated Communication.
• Bonka Boneva, Robert Kraut. Using E-Mail for Personal Relationships

Evaluation

The authors of this study focused a little subjectively towards the issue as they tried to see what the best way possible was to keep the intimacy between two long distance couples. They measured using a quantitative approach in that they measured their data using the numbers and quantity of the people it concerned. The subject is not as novel as other ideas and the topic was unique in that it focused directly on the subject of intimacy instead of overall communication via an online service.

Discussion

The subject of a long-distance relationship has always been interesting to me. As technology grows and people have a ever growing desire to stay social through technical means, I think it will be more 'natural' to communicate with others regularly over some form of technology but to most people, this subject is a little weird. Why talk to each other online when they can do it through the phone or in person. I think that the idea of using what you're comfortable most and making the computer a second piece of themselves is key in getting people who use it more and keeping their connection alive between each other.