Face time

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. [http://www.extendicare.com/consumer/article35.htm] Another explanation is that direct eye contact is critical to guarantee honesty. [http://www.blifaloo.com/info/lies_eyes.php] (see lying)

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

* Social alienation
* Digitality

Further reading

* [http://www.freep.com/legacy/jobspage/toolkit/face.htm Newsroom politics: Getting face time]
* [http://www.embassymag.ca/html/index.php?display=story&full_path=/2006/february/22/elearning/ Has eLearning Revolutionized Education?]

External links

* [http://www.catb.org/jargon/html/F/face-time.html catb.org jargon]
* [http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1013328 Zero face-time protocol]
* [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0609604635/ Face time] - a novel by Erik Tarloff
* [http://www.wordspy.com/words/facetime.asp word spy]
* [http://www2.darwinmag.com/read/feature/feb05_face.cfm The Importance of Face Time] - an article
* [http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=11310 Favouring Face Time] - an article
* [http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/face+time Marriam-Websters Dictionary]
* [http://www.bartleby.com/61/46/F0004650.html Bartleby Dictionary]
* [http://www.networkworld.com/news/2006/062306-internet-friends.html article on shrinking face time]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • face time — ➔ time * * * face time UK US noun [U] WORKPLACE ► time you spend at work talking to people directly, not by email, phone, or online: »The CEO likes to get as much face time as possible with junior employees. »A new worker needs face time with… …   Financial and business terms

  • face time — (f[=a]s t[imac]m ), n. Time spent speaking with a person face to face; contrasted with time spent communicating by electronic media, such as telephone or e mail, or via written communications; as, the chief of staff has the most face time with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • face time — n [U] AmE 1.) time that you spend at your job because you want other people, especially your manager, to see you there, whether or not you are actually doing good work ▪ Here we reward performance, not face time. 2.) time that you spend talking… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • face time — face′ time n. 1) sbz a brief appearance on television 2) a brief meeting, esp. with someone important 3) a face to face meeting with a person one knows only from phone conversations, e mail correspondence, etc • Etymology: 1975–80 …   From formal English to slang

  • face time — face ,time noun uncount AMERICAN time spent with other people instead of communicating with them by phone, e mail, or on the Internet …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • face time — noun work time spent at the location of or in the presence of other people instead of working on the problem at home he devoted face time to it at the office • Hypernyms: ↑work time * * * noun 1. : the amount of time one spends appearing on… …   Useful english dictionary

  • face time — n. Time spent interacting with someone in person, rather than via email or some other electronic link. Example Citation: John and Heather duly dispatched their pictures, both of which showed pleasant, open, plumpish faces. Both liked what they… …   New words

  • face-time — Washington DC expression used to indicate the amount of time a person merits in face to face conversation with a person in a position of authority. As an Assistant Deputy Undersecretary she s not going to merit more than two minutes face time a… …   Dictionary of american slang

  • face-time — Washington DC expression used to indicate the amount of time a person merits in face to face conversation with a person in a position of authority. As an Assistant Deputy Undersecretary she s not going to merit more than two minutes face time a… …   Dictionary of american slang

  • face time — n. time spent face to face with someone. (As opposed to over the telephone or by email, etc.) □ I need to have more face time with my children …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

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