Face time

Face time is interaction or contact between two or more people at the same time and physical location. Face time therefore occurs in "real life" or "meatspace" and contrasts primarily with interaction or contact which occurs over distance (eg. via telephone) and/or electronically (eg. via email, instant messaging, e-commerce, or computer simulations).

The term was originally a colloquialism but has entered the vernacular with the increasing number of people throughout the world who commonly and extensively rely on telecommunications and the internet for personal and business communication.

"Face time" was a primary theme in Douglas Coupland's novel Microserfs.

Characteristics of face time

Face time is important for its unique characteristics of eye contact and touch. Various simulations that serve as an alternative to face time do not have these features (yet). Quality time is the idea of surrounding oneself with others of value, while having low obligations and being oriented towards fun (see Anthropological theories of value). This sort of behaviour is possible in non-face time situations like chat rooms, but it is widely felt that fun in a chat room does not qualify as quality time. The reasons for this are complicated (see loneliness). One explanation is that touch between humans is a fundamental of emotion well-being.[1] Another explanation is that direct eye contact is critical to guarantee honesty.[2] (see lying)

Influences on face time

Factors increasing face time:

• Singles bars, dance clubs
• The rise of the service economy
• Collectivist cultures like China
• An increasing number of intellectuals like Esther Dyson and Nicholas Negroponte studying the effects of technology in society.

Factors decreasing face time:

• Face time alternatives are more efficient (see Microsoft's business culture).
• The influence of the mass media.
• cybersex

See also

• Digitality
• Principle of locality
• Social alienation

Further reading

• Newsroom politics: Getting face time
• Has eLearning Revolutionized Education?

External links

• catb.org jargon
• Zero face-time protocol
• Face time - a novel by Erik Tarloff
• word spy
• The Importance of Face Time - an article
• Favouring Face Time - an article
• Marriam-Websters Dictionary
• Bartleby Dictionary
• article on shrinking face time