TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

Preliminary Results from theQuestionnaire Study

AtGentive @ Oxford18.05.2006

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

The Characters

Five characters (from left to right): Dino, William, Julie, Philippe, and Onty

3 facial expressions

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

Study Design• 12 scales

– Affect space (emotional valence, arousal, dominance)

– Usability space, ISO 9241-11 (effectiveness,efficiency, satisfaction)

– Attention space (conspicuousness, distractiveness,interestingness)

– Role space (sex, pertinence, believability)• 5 agents × 3 facial expressions

• Respondents are instructed and the Web-based questionnaire administered face-to-face

• Our aim is to collect 90 responses (30 for each between-subjects group)

within-subjects between-subjects

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

Preliminary Results

• 45 respondents (16 female, 29 male) – 14-16 per group (expression)– Age from 21 to 53 years (mean ~28 yrs)

• Agent character has a statistically significant effect on several scales¹– 45 evaluations per each avatar – Results still somewhat preliminary

• Especially concerning potential sex differences

• Facial expression has already some significant effects¹ – emotional valence – moderates experienced dominance and characters’

conspicuousness– Only 14 to 16 respondents per facial expression

• More data is required and will be collected

¹ In this case, statistical significance means p<0.05 or less

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

Affect Space: Valence and Arousal

Aro

usa

lC

alm

Aro

used

Emotional valence +-

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

Affect Space: Valence and Dominance

Do

min

ance

Age

ntS

elf

Emotional valence +-

Negative agent

Positive agent

Neutral agent

Female respondentsMale respondents

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

Usability Space: Efficiency and Satisfaction

Sat

isfa

ctio

n

Efficiency

Female respondentsMale respondentsAll respondents

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

Attention Space: Conspicuousness and Interestingness

Inte

rest

ing

nes

s

Conspicuousness

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

Role Space: Pertinence and Believability

Bel

ieva

bil

ity

Pertinence

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

Preference

6 4 1 1 2

3 5 1 3 3

9 5 0 2 0

18 14 2 6 5

1 3 5 3 2

4 1 5 2 3

1 1 7 2 5

6 5 17 7 10

Least pleasantMost pleasant

“Least intimidating”

“Cute, friendly, funny, …”

“Angry expression”

“Childish, naïve, …“

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

Discussion• Facial expressions of a virtual character influence social

human-computer interaction – E.g. a character can signal that it wants to take control

• People expect to learn more efficiently with virtual characters– Better results lead to satisfaction (?)

• Interesting characters draw attention …– … but conspicuousness does not necessarily lead to

interest (e.g., “Character draws negative attention…”)• Pertinent characters are believable

– Human-like, pertinent characters as teachers• Non-human characters are conspicuous and interesting

– Motivators and attention guides• Some characters commented to be more suitable for

children– Support for having different characters for AtgentSchool

and AtgentNet

TAUCHI – Tampere Unit for Computer-Human Interaction

Thank you!