The relationship of environment to communication in case of“Tea-friend”
Toshimasa YAMANAKA*, Kai TAMURA***University of Tsukuba C/o Institute of Art & Design1-1-1 Tennodai Tsukuba-shi Ibaraki 305-8574
JAPAN, tyam@geijutsu.tsukuba.ac.jp** University of Tsukuba C/o Fujitsu Shinjo-Ryo 215, Shiumokuchi 364-1, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki,Kanagawa, Japan 213-0023, tamkai@ezweb.ne.jp

Abstract: In the hulistic communication, a number of tacit things such as non-verbal information, objects which makethe environment, make the situation of the communication. Even though we cannot tell the effect, we sometimes
prefer the situation, dislike the situation or tend to change the situation for better communication. It is very valuable tostudy how the tacit object works for the communication. In this paper, we focused on the so called ‘Cha-nomi
tomodachi (Tea-friend)’.
We sat up two different experimental communication environments: 1) without tea, and 2) with the tea. For eachenvironment, we hired ten sets of two-person conversation.
We expect that the behavior of conversation can show the difference of the existing of tea. For analysis, we checkedout the distance data of panels during the conversation of from the video record.
The major findings of the research as a result of time-dependent analysis are follows,
1. With a tea drinking, the panels’ action became milder.
2. With a tea drinking, the panels’ position tend to be closer.
3. Tea drinking give panels for a short time-rug that control the pace of conversation.
As a result, it is proved that tea drinking has an tacit and indirect effect on communication..
Key words: Kansei, Communication, Interface

1. Introduction
When we communicate, the field such as situation, atomosphere and setting of objects, arrangement of thetime are highly affected to communication. In our life, we naturally uses tea, or other object for eating or dinking.
In Japanese, there is saying ‘Cha-nomi Tomodachi’ that means “Tea drinking friends”.

It represents therelationship that means friends tend to use tea-drinking as an opportunity of communication. On the other hand,
there is ‘tea ceremony’ in Japanese traditional culture that can be considered as a communication support by style.
On the other hand, Kansei is a subconscious mental-function that control the communication. In the drinking-tea
situation, we supposed both Kansei and behavior works in relation to control the communication.
In that way, the In this paper, we study the function of tea, or drinking-tea, as a communication support
through the behavior of friends.

2. Method
We used observation method for examining the relationship in tea-drinking situation. Two situation,communication with tea-drinking and without tea-drinking. We checked the result as examining and quantifyingthe record. Through the comparison, the characteristics of tea-drinking as well as the related result wasdetermined.
2.1 Experiment
Panel:-University Students (18-24 year old, male:6, female:6) with one friend who are usually enjoy talking.

-Then it makes 12 pair of experimental situation (male-male: 5, female-female:5, male-female: 2)-Divide 12 pair into two groups that enjoy ‘communication with tea-drinking’ and ‘communication
without tea-drinking’.

Fig.1. Situation

Fig.2. ExperimentSituation:-Two panels are sat on face-to-face.

-

For better talking,, showing one piece of photograph (digital ) to make an opportunity of talking.

-However, panels can talk on any theme.

-Tea-drinking situation: place teacups, tea server and tiny snack between panels. Panels can freely servethem. First cups are served by examiner for ease to make situation.

-Non tea-drinking situation: without teacups and tea server.

Fig.3. Reviewing process

Fig.4. Picture used for reference in experiment

Experiment time and record:-

Before the experiment, 10 minutes of rehearsal was given to panels to get used to the condition.

-Experiment was 10 minutes and recorded by VCR from horizontal view.

-After the communication, panels are asked to answer their mood by in 30 seconds interval with reviewing
the record. Fig. 5 shows the check seet.

Fig. 5.mood check sheet.
2.2 Result of experiment2.2.1 action of panel
Checking out the record, following actions are found in many panels.

Fig. 6. Nod, fingering.

Fig.7. Fingering, showing size.
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Fig. 8. Move hands/fingers, drink tea

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Table 1. action found in panels
2.2.2 mood of panel
With check sheet shown on fig.5, the change of mood was recorded as [positive (cheerful, happy) – negative(boring, not fun) ] scale.

2.2.3 Distance of panels
Through the holistic inspection of VCR data, we found the distance, especially the changes of distance,
between panels represent subconscious value of panels. Then we picked up a still shot of experiment in 5
second interval to measure their distance of eyes categorized by 16 distance range of their eyes. Then makeindex of distance by adding the range number of both panel. This index represents bigger number as close.

Fig. 9. Distance range

Fig. 10. changes of distance panel set 1

3. Analysis
3.1 measuring the relations
3.1.1 distance of panels
With the distance data, there suppose to be similarity between / amoung sets or situations.
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Table 2. Average of distance by all sets

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Table 3. Cross matrix of t-test between sets

This result of t-test shows the group [1, 2, 7], [3, 5, 6, (11)], [11, 12] have similar average. This means at least
the sets with tea has potentially similar behavior.
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Then, the result of ANOVA of the distance data (table 4) shows the significant difference between thesituations by p-value. Then ‘with tea’ situation makes panels more closer than ‘without tea’ situation.
3.1.2 fluctuations of panels’ distanceThen, we focused on the variance of panel’s distance. In this case, variance can be considered as fluctuationsof panel’s relation. The result of ANOVA of the variance of the distance data (table 5) do not show thesignificant difference between the situations by p-value. However, there is some tendency that ‘with tea’situations are more stable in sense of fluctuation in communication.

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Table 5. Result of ANOVA of the variance of the distance
To check the trend more clearly, we applied the Fourier analysis to the time-dependent change data of panels’
distance (table 6.) This result shows the ‘with tea’ situation tend to have longer cycle (= stable) of distancechange. This can mean tea create moderate mood in panels’ relationship.

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Table 6. Result of Fourier analysis of the time-dependent changes of distance. Greater values indicate typicalcycle of changes in panels’ distance.
3.2 behavior of drinking
The timing of drinking tea is classified as follows.
-Break of talk-End of talk-Silent situation-Opponent’s drinking timing

Drinking behavior during the break or end of talk, the behavior of drinking are situated as follows.
1.

Divert sight from the opponent

2.

Hold cup and watch opponent

3.

Drink with watching opponent

4.

Divert sight from the opponent and place cup

5.

Watch opponent

It takes 5-10 seconds for this process. In the centrally, drinking behavior during the silence tend to take 20seconds or more and no typical manner of drinking.

3. Observation and Discussions
From the result of time-dependent observation, the presence of tea work as an opportunity of notice as well as
action for panels. And it is considered as following effects for the tea-drinking situation.
1. With a tea drinking, the panels’ action became milder.
2. With a tea drinking, the panels’ position tend to be closer.
3. Tea drinking give panels for a short time-rug that control the pace of conversation.
Hall[2] reported the distance between panels are highly related to their intimacy. Oobo[6] reported also thecloser distance make people more friendly.
Also, tea drinking force panels to use mouth for drinking. Then panels have to put ‘break’ in the conversation
without terminating the conversation because the behavior of drinking presents the continuity of conversation.
Then tea drinking can consider as create certain and moderate rhythm over the conversation. Kawana[7] reports
speaker in conversation tend to regard opponents with nodding more friendly. In this case, nodding is a sign ofnatural reaction. In this study, tea-drinking often happened while opponent speaking. It considered as naturalbehavior as nodding.
Further more, teacups placed between panels collect panels’ sight naturally. Another observed case wassimultaneous drinking, especially while the conversation stopped. It could be a behavior to find next opportunityof conversation. According to the synchrony theory[8, 9], simultaneous action or imitated action create morefriendly mood between people. All these effects produced by tea support friendly relationship.
Obviously, other situation such as board game or small puzzle can control peoples’ notice like tea drinking.
However game or puzzle tend to force panel think deeply. It became an obstacle of concentrating to theconversation as well as reducing the smooth rhythm that can be created by drinking tea.

4. Conclusions
In this study, a effect of tea-drinking was confirmed. Object or situation such as tea-drinking can subconsciously
support our communication smoothly. This subconscious effect can be expect the relationship with Kansei. However In
this case, we could not determine path from tea-drinking to the function of Kansei. It is expected to the further research
as well as research on different situation such as gaming, eating or playing something.

Referencesnd1] Argyle; Bodily communication 2 ed.; Methen&Co.Ltd; 1988
2] Hall,E,T; The hidden dimension; Doubleday & Company; 1966
3] Sommer.R; Personal Space:The behavioral basis of design; Prentice-Hall,Inc; 19694] Patterson.M.L.; Nonverval behavior : A functional perspective; New York : Springer-Verlag; 1983
5] Kaiho; Conversation, Cognition; http://www.human.tsukuba.ac.jp/~hkaiho/KAIWA.html
rd6] Ohbo; Effect of human’s attractive information to speak, sight-behavior; Proceeding of 33 JapaneseSociety for Group Dynamics 15-16; 1985
7] Kawana; Effect of Nodding by opponet in human-human situation; Experimental Psychology 26,6776; 1986
8] Matarazzo,J.D.,G,W,Wiens,A,N.,Weitman,M.,&Allen,B.V; Interviewer infulection on duration ofinterviewee speech Journal on Verval Learing and VervalBehavior ; 1963
9] Zatugaku Monoshiri Club ‘Truth and lie in mind’; Kodansha +alpha; 2002
Appendix AExample of record of experiment with tea-drinking

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