How face-to-face communication with photo similarities effects conversations

Abstract

This paper introduces a face-to-face communication platform using images. Our iPhone application, used by plural users simultaneously, will display a set of images with an algorithm calculating image similarities. The app accesses each user's picture library linked with Google Photos, sorts in the relevance with the algorithm, and selects which to display. This paper illustrates the app design and the validation study of the user communication. The study recruited participants divided into two groups: one that are close friends, and another are complete strangers. We intended the former group to catch up and find some new topics to talk about, while the latter group to find some things in common that might trigger communication. This pilot study reveals how the current system effects the conversations, states how this platform could articulate face-to-face communications, and finally discusses how this platform could be improved in the future.