Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!zephyr.ens.tek.com!tektronix!sequent!crg5!szabo
From: szabo@crg5.UUCP (Nick Szabo)
Newsgroups: comp.groupware
Subject: Re: 2 comments
Message-ID: <20921@crg5.UUCP>
Date: 11 Jan 91 23:44:00 GMT
References: <214@buster.ddmi.com> <115@intrbas.UUCP> <20815@crg5.UUCP> <126@intrbas.UUCP> <872@agcsun.UUCP>
Reply-To: szabo@crg5.UUCP (Nick Szabo)
Organization: Sequent Computer Systems, Inc
Lines: 40

In article <872@agcsun.UUCP> marks@agcsun.UUCP (Mark Shepherd) writes:

>Nick Szabo thinks that the emotional content of sound and video is
>often shallow and unnecessary. In a purely technical discussion this
>can be true, however it is arguable that the most important group
>interactions (which is what groupware is all about) are the ones dealing
>with personal (i.e. emotional) rather than technical issues. 

So argue (ie provide some evidence).  For this newsgroup, I think most
of the audience is technically oriented, and interested in groupware
to facilitate the discussion of technical topics.  Also, I am not
convinced that sound and video are better for emotional issues than
print.  They can communicate more emotional data, yes, but that is not
necessarily a good thing.  An example is Galileo, who recanted what he 
had seen with his own eyes, after he had to meet the pope face-to-face.
Emotional interaction is ad hominem and gets in the way of finding the
truth or achieving technical goals.  In some fields (eg sales) emotional
interaction is foremost (not necessarily a good thing either, esp. 
technical sales, but sadly true).  In those cases sound and video could
be used (although IMHO society would not really benefit).  However I
don't think there are very may salespeople reading this thread.


>I would 
>even go further and say that long-term, real-world electronic collaboration
>is only possible with media that can adequately carry the emotional
>content.

History disagrees.  The print media has been carrying on long-term, 
real-world collaboration for hundreds of years.  It is largely 
responsible for post-Renassaince scientific collaboration: Newton "I have 
stood on the shoulders of giants".  UseNet has now speeded up the ability
to colloborate via electronic text, and real-time groupware could do this 
even more.  Technical graphics would also be a big win.  But I see little 
need for sound and video.


-- 
Nick Szabo			szabo@sequent.com
Embrace Change...  Keep the Values...  Hold Dear the Laughter...