Impacts of telecommunications latency on the timing of speaker transitions

Abstract

Transitions from speaker to speaker occur very rapidly in conversations. However, common telecommunication systems, from landline telephones to online video conferencing, introduce latency into the turn-taking process. To measure what impacts latency has on conversation, this study examines 61 audio-only conversations in which latency was introduced partway through the call and removed several minutes later. It finds an increase in overlap proportional to latency. The results also indicate that speakers increase transition times in response to latency and that this increase persists even after latency is removed. Participants made these behavioral changes despite not recognizing the presence of latency during the call.