Mutual Gaze Support in Videoconferencing Reviewed

Videoconferencing allows geographically dispersed parties to communicate by simultaneous audioand video transmissions. It is used in a variety of application scenarios with a wide range of coordination needs and efforts, e.g. private chat, discussion meetings, and negotiation tasks. In particular in scenarios requiring certain levels of trust and judgement non-verbal communication cues are of high importance for effective communication. Mutual gaze support plays a central role in those high coordination need scenarios, but generally lacks adequate technical support from videoconferencing systems. Here we review technical concepts and implementations for mutual gaze support in videoconferencing, classify them, evaluate them according to a defined set of criteria and give recommendations for future developments. Our review gives decision makers, researchers, and developers a tool to systematically apply and further develop videoconferencing systems in "serious" settings requiring mutual gaze. This should lead to well-informed decisions regarding the use and development of this technology and to a more widespread exploitation of the benefits of videoconferencing in general. For example, if videoconferencing systems would support high quality mutual gaze in an easy to set-up and easy to use way more and more effective and efficient recruitment interviews, court hearings, or contract negotiations could be held.