Research conducted in collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent (Paris, France)

Conference calling is gaining popularity, especially video-based devices. Still audio-only conference call devices are often preferred for their privacy properties and low price compared to video. It has been shown that in audio-only devices, the insufficient non-verbal communication and context unawareness result in communication problems, which affects negotiations and user experience. This project focused on improving the usability of the Alcatel-Lucent 4125 Compact Conferencing Module concerning its function, aesthetics, and communication quality. Usability test of the model revealed that while using the conference module, inadequate product feedback resulted in communication issues related to focusing, understanding and being aware of all the members participating in the call. The product demanded an undesirable amount of attention during the conversation, which led to a clumsy and unclear user experience for the people involved. In the redesign, the enriched communication feedback was created by visualizing voice inputs and making the interactions more physically dynamic.