Video Conferencing: 1) Communication
Our differing selves and what we choose to communicate is at the heart
What’s video conferencing if Communication isn’t at the core of it? We continue looking at our 4Cs by discussing just that, analyzing what current solutions do to achieve Connection as they try to meet the most basic needs, and yet convey us as the authentic beings we are.
Bare bones, communication simply is defined as “to inform and provide new information.” But there are many ways to do that (hello, written word) — so why would video conferencing enhance this? Because it adds authenticity and connection to our communication. It’s the moments in between the information that cultivate relationships. The mode of video conferencing allows us to see when the façade comes down, exposing an opening to absorb new perspectives, engage in intense discussions, and invite discourse. Although our senses are whittled down to two — sight and sound — we are not only informing but also expressing, and we’re being understood by an audience. Some tools, however, seem to want us to hide in our projected self rather than present our authentic self.
Our Self
One of four versions of our self comes across in any form of Communication: our true self, our authentic self, our best self, and our projected self. Of them all, it’s the authentic one that leads to connection.
True self may be the most honest, but full transparency can cause a questioning of our abilities. Our best self sounds, well, the best, but it leaves out the flaws that humanize us. This self only represents a small slice of who we are, and consistently maintaining it is not only inaccurate, it’s also exhausting. The projected self may be the leave-behind we don’t even realize others have of us, even if it carries the farthest. And some tools even turn that view back to us, taking away from the focus of communication: Zoom, in particular, puts our self-view front and center when talking with others. It’s as if we’re invited to be Narcissus, focusing on how we appear, distracted by our own visage, to the detriment of why we are meeting with others in the first place. The ultimate video conferencing experience should be the one that best extracts our earnest believability — and that comes from being authentic.
The Paradox
Being authentic isn’t always effortless in a virtual environment. Cultural expectations, professional standards, and even personal insecurities can create pressure to present ourselves in an ideal light. Yet, paradoxically, the more we edit or curate how we appear on video, the less genuine we become, which undermines the true purpose of communication.
Facebook is trying to do this by perfecting VR. Just think: no blemishes, no hair out of place. It’s our words, faces, and gestures — just better. Expressions and emotions are finding a way beyond the screen, via headset. But what if this highly synthesized version is just our most polished “best” self? It may clarify us in a digital format, but what has been removed through perfection — the mess-ups, the roaming pet in the background, our sartorial style — takes away pieces of our authenticity, and therefore can impede connection.
The flip of that is eschewing realism and fictionalizing ourselves. Loom.ai uses a cartoon avatar to stand in video calls. Our voices come through as they are, and by AI reading them, the animations do the work. This in turn rids us of the fatigue of misplaced cameras and continuous gaze letting us move around and take notes, with colleagues none the wiser. True, it withholds imperfections, too. But maybe the solution is less about realism and more about relaxation, so nuance can come through (even if we do have oversized eyes). Is it possible that the more exaggerated artifice is our best bet for connection right now? Until we know for sure, there’s Zoom’s face filter to fall back on.
Still, the question arises: how do we integrate the best of these technologies while retaining authenticity? Designers might explore user-controlled “modes” that allow participants to toggle between polished filters, avatars, or their raw camera feed depending on context. This customization could empower individuals to navigate between professional and personal spheres without losing the essence of who they are.
If the majority of our communication were in person rather than through digital means, this feeling of disconnection might not have surfaced. As optimists, we believe that we can bring more humanity into technology. Our digital communication tools, such as video conferencing, can move us away from staying in the sliver of our projected selves and instead bring our authentic selves to our digital conversations and communications.
Are you challenged with bringing your authentic self to the screen? Let’s connect and discuss!
