Communicating
with ugly but
efficient
characters
Henriette van Vugt
Elly Konijn
Johan Hoorn
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
24 nov 2005
Etmaal van de communicatiewetenschap
Persona effect
Users respond differently to interfaces
encorporating an interface character than to those
without an interface character
Aim of the project
2 main perspectives
Human-like appearance and behavior
– Social responses
– Similarities engagement real human beings
Computer application
– Task context
– Similarities use intention other applications
I-PEFiC model
Are the Engagement and Interaction
process dependent on each other?
Experimental design
Manipulations - Aesthetics
Ugly: Berta
Beautiful: Bella
Manipulations - Affordances
Aids:
knowledgeable, fast
Obstacles: clumsy, slow
Method
•120 participants
•I-PEFiC measures (Cronbach’s alpha > .70)
•5 tasks, as quickly as possible
e.g. “Have Bella repair the sink”
•If task finished, stop the clock, write time down
•Completion of the 5 tasks
Slow (about 12 minutes) or fast (about 6 minutes)
•Then, questionnaire, and one more task
Results
C
H
A
R
A
C
T
E
R
S
Y
S
T
E
M
Involvement
Aesthetics
Beautiful
Ugly
Distance
Relevance
Affordances
Aid
Obstacle
Valence
Use
Intentions
Satisfaction
Results
C
H
A
R
A
C
T
E
R
S
Y
S
T
E
M
Involvement
Aesthetics
Beautiful
Ugly
Distance
Relevance
Affordances
Aid
Obstacle
Valence
Use
Intentions
Satisfaction
Results
C
H
A
R
A
C
T
E
R
S
Y
S
T
E
M
Involvement
Aesthetics
Beautiful
Ugly
Distance
Relevance
Affordances
Aid
Obstacle
Valence
Use
Intentions
Satisfaction
Results
C
H
A
R
A
C
T
E
R
S
Y
S
T
E
M
Involvement
Aesthetics
Beautiful
Ugly
Distance
Relevance
Affordances
Aid
Obstacle
Valence
Use
Intentions
Satisfaction
Main conclusion
‘Digital bonds’ between humans and
interface characters are established by
both the character’s visual appearance
and the affordances it offers for task
execution.
Discussion
Trend in game industry:
More game AI, less graphic game design
Future research:
Different task environment
On/off function