Conversation Piece plays a mimic game with how we communicate. It tries to lure us in and engage through audio through a small sculpture on an exhibition plinth.  It begs us for half a conversation—as you would overhear a cell phone conversation—replicating a touch of human interaction but not enough.  It is these brink points that can cause uncomfort.  It is also here where we stand at the edge of engagement.  In multimedia systems, we strive to measure and understand engagement beyond a proxy for activity.  Conversation Piece exemplifies a common type of engagement that is often overlooked