Getting the model right for video-mediated communication (abstract)

Videoconferencing, videophone, media space, electronic meeting rooms — these are just some of the abstractions that the research community have evolved for computer-mediated video communications. Each abstraction implies a particular context for communication, supported by an appropriate User Interface design and set of multimedia services. The success of public telephone services owes much to the simple but powerful call abstraction that unifies the services provided by the PSTNS. If video really is to succeed, a uniform abstraction seems necessary both from the users point of view. and for systems developers. Which of the current models, if any, is most appropriate? Perhaps the abstraction that will succeed has yet to emerge or will evolve slowly from a merger of the various approaches. Meanwhile, the engineers forge ahead in the construction of national and international communications infrastructures, so these issues must be raised now. Users will need models of VMC that help them make effective use of the wide variety of multimedia services that will soon be available.