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.

Audio. 377 spent talking has been to a great extent out of reach of computer technology. This loss of speech information is all the more striking, given the dominance of the audio medium in influencing communication outcomes regardless of the presence of visual and other media [Oschman and Chapanis 1974]. Furthermore, speech communication fulfills different communicative purposes than text communication and "is especially valuable for the more

Abstract. This paper argues for the importance of home-related research on technology. Several important differences between researching homes and researching workplaces are described, and several issues in conducting homerelated research are discussed in the context of specific research efforts. Ways to advance home-related research as a discipline are presented, including an existing course on technology design with a home focus.

No abstract

No abstract