Gesture-based communication techniques may ease video meeting challenges: Simple set of gestures may beat emojis to communicate in video meetings

During the COVID-19 pandemic, online video conferencing has been a useful tool for industry, education, and social interactions. However, it has also been associated with poor mental well-being, poor communication, and fatigue.

To help overcome the challenges of online video meetings, Hills developed VMS, a set of simple physical gestures that can be used alongside verbal communication during a video meeting. The gestures — including two thumbs up to signal agreement or a hand over the heart to show sympathy — are meant to improve experiences by serving a similar function as subtle face-to-face signals, such as raised eyebrows, while being more visible in a small video setting.

To investigate the potential of VMS, Hills and colleagues first tested it among more than 100 undergraduate students. After half were trained on the technique, the students participated in two video-based seminars in groups of about 10 students each, before answering a survey about their experience.

Analysis of the survey results showed that, compared to students without VMS training, those with VMS training reported a better personal experience, better feelings about their seminar group, and better learning outcomes. Analysis of seminar transcripts also suggested that students with VMS training were more likely to use positive language.

Similar results were seen in a follow-up experiment with participants who were not students. This experiment also suggested that participants trained to use emojis instead of VMS gestures did not experience the same improved experience as participants with VMS training.

These findings suggest that VMS may be an effective technique to help overcome the challenges of video conferencing. In the future, the researchers plan to continue to study VMS, for instance by investigating the mechanisms that may underlie its effects and how to apply it for maximum benefit.

Paul D. Hills adds: “Our research indicates that there’s something about the use of gestures specifically which appears to help online interactions and help people connect and engage with each other. This can improve team performance, make meetings more inclusive and help with psychological wellbeing.”

Daniel C. Richardson adds: “Because you can’t make eye contact or pick up on subtle nods, gestures and murmurs of agreement or dissent in video conferences, it can be hard to know if people are engaged with what you’re saying. We found strong evidence that encouraging people to use more natural hand gestures had a much better effect on their experience.”

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