Why screen communication isn’t so bad and the benefits of working with the like-minded

The following is part of a transcript and analysis of an interview I did with one of my subjects, programming student Robert.

-Can you explain what you have been working on and what your role is?

Robert: I’ve been working on a video game for a game development course, and I am working as a programmer. The game is about flying around as a seagull, picking up things around an island, and getting more things than your opponent.

-: What was the inspiration behind the game?

Robert: I am not sure entirely, but the group leader who presented the idea for the game basically said she found seagulls interesting and hated that when you go to the beach they are everywhere. So she wanted to make a game where you got to be the seagull.

-: So there are programmers and animators, what’s the difference?

Robert: Programmers work on making sure the game works, like the seagull can move around. The artists’ work on making it look nice.

-: So a big part of your work is staring at screens-

Robert: OH yeah, for hours.

-: So how would you say that screenwork impacts teamwork and cooperation among you and your peers?

Robert: Most of the time we are working in a room together and making sure we are all on the same page. And even when we are not, we are on a group chat using Facebook to maintain communication with each other. So there is constant communication within the group even though it is staring at a screen for hours. It is a little bit slower but the big thing is the artists are never going to be working on what the programmers are working on, so as along as Jim and I are letting each other know what files we are working on, it is fine.

-: With your previous group, Facebook is sufficient now even though it was not before?

Robert: Yeah, it’s definitely better to be in a room and communicate first hand rather than Facebook, but they have been good with communicating.

-: Any problems with it?

Robert: None that I can think of. We don’t ignore each other so it’s a pretty good group.

-: How would you say the bulk of your work gets done?

Robert: We all agree on what needs to get done that day and get it done. Like right now the artists are working on adding new islands and maps to the game while Jim and I are working on looking for and fixing any bugs us find.

-: How does this compare to working on previous group projects?

Robert: Well previously, I’ve just worked with people in my major, so it’s been really interesting working with people who have art majors and comp sci majors because I have noticed a bit of a difference in how we think and talk to each other. So it’s been cool seeing how it works through another lens.

-: So everyone is on the same track in this class as opposed to previous classes?

Robert: Everyone is on the same game development track while most of my other class are comp sci focused while this is specifically for game development.

Interview analysis:

It is a beautiful spring Saturday afternoon, but instead of going outside and enjoying it, Robert is stuck inside finalizing code for his group’s seagull collectathon game, Salty Seagull, as well as helping his roommate and friend on their computer science projects. He is able to make some time though on this day to sit down and speak with me, as we prepare to talk while seated at a table in his apartment living room, with the two of us being seated across from the friends he is trying to help with their projects.

In our discussion, it became clear that this was a unique project for Robert to be working on as he points out that this is really the first time he had ever gotten the chance to not only work on a project that is important for him career wise, but he is working on it with a group that is entirely on the same career track as he is.

The interview also goes into detail about the group communicates and cooperates with one another in the modern setting that is seemingly dominated by the use of screens. Even though Robert had previously had a negative experience with using an app like Facebook as the main method to communicate with his group, he points out it is effective in this group now because the also do set up in person meetings with one another.

So, even though many would most likely enjoy arguing on behalf of how the increased usage of screen as a communication tool rather than meeting in person more often is detrimental, Robert’s group provides a clear example of how a balance can be struck between the two, and as long as sole reliance is not being placed on just the screen form of communication, everything will be fine. Slower? Yes. But this way, they are able to better communicate when they are forced to work on their assignment at home rather than in their group together.