SpotiView: A Partial-Face Display Method for Remote Communication

In videoconferencing platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, many participants refrain from showing their faces due to privacy concerns or a lack of confidence in their appearance. This leads to a reduction in the transmission of non-verbal information conveyed through facial expressions. To address this, we propose SpotiView, a partial-face display method that protects privacy while enhancing communication. Showing only key facial areas like the eyes or mouth, adjusting the size and blurring SpotiView effectively convey non-verbal cues while maintaining privacy. Seamlessly integrated into major videoconferencing tools, the system allows instant changes to visible facial parts using a virtual camera. We conducted a user questionnaire to evaluate whether the partial display of the face can support smooth communication while maintaining privacy. A questionnaire study found that the eyes-only mode felt as comfortable as using an avatar and supported conversation turn-taking better than either camera-off or avatar modes. It also lowered users’ resistance to being on camera by about 35% compared with full-face display. Thus, partial-face display offers a novel approach to optimally combining the benefits of camera-on and camera-off modes, catering to the diverse needs of videoconferencing.