Toward determining an attention-getting device for improving interaction during video-mediated communication

摘要

Video-mediated communication is becoming a more common and effective means of inter- personal communication including work-related activities, distance education, telemedicine, and access to public information. Although the issue of 'attention getting' and its importance for interpersonal interaction is well recognized in the video-mediated communication literature there is very little empirical evidence as to the relative effectiveness of the various attributes of attention-getting signals. The objective of this study was to compare the response times and error rates of four attention-getting devices which were suitable for a particular application of video-mediated communication in the educational sector. Twelve subjects (eight female and four male), classroom instructors aged 35-55 years. participated in the study. Four attention- getting devices were tested in this experiment f a red light, a yellow rotating light, a wire hand, and a fan with ribbon streamers. Each device was tested three times in three different class- rooms during an actual class with actual instructors (the subjects). A one-way analysis of var- iance demonstrated a significant difference in response time for the four devices with the yellow light and the metal hand being fastest. This preliminary study points out the importance of empirically testing the effectiveness of attention-getting devices of differing characteristics since of the four devices tested here, two could be expected to elicit the most immediate response from a communication partner.