It may be virtual, but let’s keep it real
Openbox principles for remote communication and engagement
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve learned a lot about transitioning inclusive research and community engagement to remote mediums. From one-on-one diary studies to fifty-person workshops, we’ve learned to find ways to make virtual meaningful, enriching, and well, real. Here are a few ways we shape virtual interactions into accessible, respectful, and joyful exchanges.
Make norms explicit
Each person uses a platform slightly differently, carrying with them different norms and expectations. In one project of ours, elderly participants misinterpreted delays in text responses from younger participants as a lack of interest and commitment. This is just one example of how remote interactions create a deficit in the contextual cues we may otherwise have available to understand each other when meeting in person. Making explicit norms can reduce misinterpretations of intent based on communication styles on any given platform.
Consider
⏱️ Expected response time
🔇 Mic muting and video on/off
🙋 How to interject
Pick platforms with precision
Each interface offers a different feel and experience, and each platform can directly influence the way we show up and participate. For example, we intentionally interviewed moms and kids over a smartphones to differentiate our interactions with them from a work or school Zoom call. By messaging and sharing media on WhatsApp, we created a more inviting experience that integrated with the family dynamic at home and mirrored other casual sharing they already do with friends and family. We suggest identifying the specific outcomes and outputs you’re seeking first, and then selecting the platform to matches those needs.
Consider
🤳 Mobile vs. desktop
🎧 Text vs. audio vs. video
👔 Professional vs. personal platform
🔒 Platform privacy level
Lean into async
Asynchronous collaboration requires more upfront planning, but allows individuals to engage on their own terms by accommodating their challenges and needs. Organizers and mothers both struggled to schedule video calls with us because of their unpredictable days. We developed a protocol with carefully designed daily chat prompts that could be replied to at any time in their day. This met their needs, while still achieving key design research objectives.
Consider
💬 Balance messaging with phone calls
🎙️ More self-directed prompts (e.g. record audio, make videos, draw maps)
💁 Plan limited synchronous moments to complement asynchronous activities
Engage the whole body
“Zoom fatigue” is real and is caused by a loss of non-verbal cues and the disembodying experience of remote communications. When we asked high school students why they appreciated certain remote classes, they told us about background music in lectures and physical movement breaks. Look for ways to add physicality and sound to remote experiences. By engaging the whole body and more senses, people can better engage and feel energized rather than drained.
Consider
🤸 Stretching and physical breaks
🧘 “Eyes off” time
✏️ Listening and handwriting activities
To learn more about our work leading remote research projects for people, communities, and cities, drop us a line at hello@opnbx.com
