ChatRoulette Experiment: Revealing Space within Mediated Intimacy
The places that appear on Chat Roulette are always dark or lowly light rooms. The person either sits away from the computer with their hand resting on their body or they sit very close and use the computer to hide their face. The exception to this is groups of people where there are either a bunch of giggling young girls peering into the camera from a brightly lit room or groups of two in a darkened place. There is usually a wall behind them or a dark undefined extension of space.
I ask people to show them the view outside of their “room” in order to reveal the physical space that they reside in. What are their horizons? What is their world?
Methodology:
1. Log on to Chatroulette
2. Ask each person if they will show me the view outside of their window.
Results:
Most people were confused and asked why.
Some showed me their window (with blinds/curtains closed) and said it was night time.
Some teenage girls told me I was weird to ask that but they became very sweet when I explained that it was a project I was working on. I felt compelled to explain that to them because I did not want little girls to think that I was a weirdo ;). It must be the maternal instinct within me. I told them to be careful and have fun before I logged off.
The men always asked me where I was from after they denied my request.
I found some men from turkey who showed me their view of Istanbul!
When asked to describe where their view many people said a street.
Conclusion:
I found that grounding the internet world in physical space was strange for many people.. especially the young girls (“I don’t want to be stalked”) . The camera was a view into their room but it was still anonymous. Their sphere outside of that room was something people were not very willing share.
