Presented at the CSCW2000 workshop on Awareness and the World Wide Web, Philadelphia, PA, USA, December 2-6, 2000.

An analysis of WebWho: How does awareness of presence affect written messages?

Peter Ljungstrand (1) and Ylva Hård af Segerstad (2)

(1) PLAY: Applied research on art and technology
Interactive Institute, Box 620, SE-40530 Göteborg, Sweden
peter.ljungstrand@interactiveinstitute.se
http://www.playresearch.com/

(2) Department of Linguistics
Göteborg University, Box 200, SE-40530 Göteborg, Sweden
ylva@ling.gu.se

Abstract

We present preliminary results from a study of how awareness of presence affects instant messaging in a computer lab. The easily accessible web based awareness tool, WebWho, visualizes a large university computer lab, allowing students to virtually locate one another and communicate via an instant messaging system. Messages can be sent anonymously, by a conscious act of ticking a box. Cross analyses of sender location (collocated, distributed, and distant), sender status (anonymous vs. identified) and message content were made. Results show that awareness of both physical presence and virtual presence affect the messages, and that these factors affect the text differently. The students use the messaging system to support collaborative work and coordinate social activities, as well as use it for playful behavior.

Keywords

Instant messaging, computer-mediated communication, awareness of presence, web visualization, social coordination

© 2000