The document summarizes a pilot program called "Group Vlog" that aimed to promote positivity and sharing of happy experiences among a small social group using daily video posts. Over 5 days, 13 participants were asked to record and share a short video responding to a daily positive topic. While participation rates varied, many found value in catching up with friends and seeing positive updates. The program demonstrated the potential for social video to spread good feelings, though improving comfort with public recording remains a challenge to broader adoption.

1. Social Calm: Group Vlog
A pilot program to share happiness within a small social circle
using video
Huyen Tran Stanford University Spring 2011

2. The Problem: Negativity
We are always worried, stressed, unsatisfied...
caught up in our own internal seas of turmoil.
Where is the time to appreciate the good things in life?

3. is HOT
people love watching youTube videos (3 billion views/day)
people like posting videos (48 hours uploaded every minute)
accessible (record directly on the site; mobile phone apps)
slogan: “Broadcast Yourself” has encouraged vlogging (video
blogging) culture
most popular social media site among college students, after
facebook because videos = extremely entertaining!
stats found here: http://www.geek.com/articles/news/youtube-hits-3-billion-views-per-day-48-hours-of-video-uploaded-per-minute-20110526/

4. Group Vlog
5 days, 13 participants
Answer a daily positive topic
Record video of self using computer webcam or smartphone
Share video with group of friends
46% participated 100% (recorded video every day)
15% stopped contributing after first day

5. Daily E-mails
Sent a daily e-mail:
youTube link to yesterday’s read & respond
compilation of videos according to personal
schedules
today’s topic
most responses came
youTube link to my video
response for today in at night, after
work/school
only had to send a
reminder e-mail on
1/5 days
Bonus: Gmail lab feature lets users
conveniently view youTube videos right
inside e-mail message!

6. Video Cycle
daily e-mail with
youTube links and record video w/ computer webcam &
topic programs like PhotoBooth or smartphone
camera
e-mail video
compile videos together in iMovie back to me
& upload privately to youTube

7. Daily Topics
“the right questions to ask are those that you
would ask when you’re with someone and
Good range of topics: conversation is dead, and you’re just trying to
come up with something to talk about.”
favorite color, cartoon
what’s on your mind right
“good mix of simple and introspective topics that
now? I felt helped me learn a lot about other people, but
are also pretty simple to give an answer to for
what made you smile/feel myself.”
good today?
“sometimes it’s good to just be able to
think about stuff that’s not school for
once.”

8. “What’s on your mind right now?”
When I asked this question, participants generally
responded with things like work and deadlines that were
stressing them out...
Someone responded realizing that most of
My
their thoughts were worry/stress-related
most exciting
moment: and decided at that moment to think about
something positive.
this is exactly what my program aims to do: get people to
escape daily worries and appreciate the beauty of a positive
thought!

9. Social Success!
*even passive
Participants*’ participants who didn’t
Favorite Part Daily Video Compilations contribute videos
enjoyed them
“I love getting daily
updates... made me
“I liked seeing smile.”
everone.”
“hearing about good things
“The best part was catching up seeing & knowing others going on in the lives of people I
with everyone.” are recording kept love made me happy!”
participation strong

10. Far from perfect...
Even with modern tech & youTube, it’s still difficult to get people
to record videos. In fact, many people enjoy youTube without
contributing any videos themselves.
recording self: technical difficulties: e-mail = cold trigger:
- camera shyness and self - alas! iphones & webcams are - limited responses to “you’re
consciousness barriers not ubiquitous... sitting at home, feeling
- awkward talking to - those without had to go comfortable” type reflections
camera or recording alone through too many steps - might have received more
- embarrassed when others (camera -> memory stick- interesting responses if daily
present while recording >computer->find file->e-mail) topics were sent out via text

11. The Future...
...looks promising!
The idea of social video is gaining more and more popularity:
- youTube’s video responses
- facebook’s video message posts
If more people
-video chatting (Skype, FaceTime) were less camera
shy/concerned
about publicity,
everyone would
The Secret Sauce: be posting video
making people feel comfortable. messages on
everyone’s
Group Vlog worked extremely well facebook wall!
with close-knit friends, and even better
with long-distance friends

12. Questions?
Huyen Tran
E-mail: huyen@stanford.edu
Twitter: @thehuyentran
WANT MORE CALMING TECH?
Check out what my classmates are up to!
Blog: cs377t.posterous.com
Twitter: #CalmingTech