Telepresence is most simply defined as the virtual presence of a speaker who is at a distance. More sophisticated definitions emphasize the use of technologies that allow a videoconference viewer to feel as if distant participants are present.
There have even been marketing campaigns built around the idea that “our high definition televisions make the image real, even better than being there.” Cisco is often credited as being first at using this approach in their marketing.
Of course much of this hype was before HDTVs become the standard—it is obvious that watching TV in high definition is more realistic and immersive than standard definition television—some HDTV vendors claim “It may even be better than being there.”
More recently the idea of telepresence has evolved to the way the image on the computer or television screen is depicted. Actually, attention to how the teleconference screen is organized is not really evolution, rather, it is a rediscovery of the basic rules of photographic composition. Today, the instructional designer need only dust off the publications distributed by Eastman Kodak several decades ago to learn about the composition of visual images. Often, the basics of what we now call telepresence fall under the heading of visual literacy, popularized by Frank Dwyer and others.
A quick look at old college textbooks on photography, or a visit to the any of the volumes in classic LIFE/TIME book series (or even a good online search for rules of visual composition) remind us of much of what we learned but probably forgot about composing images.
Some authors have 10 rules of composition, others six, and others list 11. A quick analysis of them shows considerable overlap, with a few classic and critical guidelines. Here is a quick overview to what to consider when creating a telepresence image of a single speaker in a videoconference. Let’s call this list “The Big Five.” Here they are.
First and probably most important is the rule of thirds, that states the frame of the image to be sent should be divided into thirds horizontally and vertically, and most major elements of the frame should be placed along one of the thirds lines … for example, a desktop should be roughly along the bottom horizontal third, and a large map in the background should have its upper edge along the top horizontal third line. Most important, the speaker should be placed over the left or right vertical line. The speaker should not be centered. The most powerful centers of interest in a static videoconferencing frame are where the vertical and horizontal lines cross.
The second guideline is to simplify the frame—avoid clutter and distractions. An open book on the table behind the speaker can be a prop if it relates to something being talked about, but often the book becomes a distraction. Distant viewers wonder what the book is about instead of listening. Clocks and calendars are the best (worst) distractions.
Third is lighting. The frame should be bright and clear. The source of the light should be in front of the speaker. Windows and other light sources should not be behind the speaker.
It can be interesting to experiment with lighting, such as placing the source of light to the left or the right of the speaker, or to have less light illuminating the background, thus making the background less obvious.
Fourth, emphasize the center of interest. Most often in videoconferencing the speaker is the center of interest, so place the speaker’s eyes at camera level, and near the top horizontal rule of thirds line. Minimize the space above the speaker’s head, too. Do not shoot over the head of the speaker. Generally, telepresence is enhanced when only the speaker’s head and shoulders are shown.
The fifth guideline is depth. Placing the speaker up against a wall is terrible. Almost as bad is having the speaker with the “whole outdoors” or “whole classroom” behind him or her. Compose the speaker so he or she fits into the location where the videoconference is being held. Offices can be wonderful sets, but they need to be carefully organized. If the bookshelves are on the left behind the speaker, then place the speaker on the right rule of thirds line. With the bookshelf on the left and the speaker on the right the frame is also balanced.
Certainly, these Big Five do little justice to the vast data about how to create visually appealing images, including effective telepresence scenes. Eugene Debes from Eastman Kodak is credited with being the modern disciple of visual composition, and Frank Dwyer from Pennsylvania State University is the father of visual literacy. Dust of your old college photography textbook, or go to the library and look over the TIME/LIFE coffee table books on photography. They are great.
And finally, as Wordsworth said 150 years ago, “I have felt a presence that disturbs me with the joy of elevated thoughts.”
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