Designing Computer Interface Agents That Support Social Interaction

Location: DSV, SU/KTH in Kista
Time: November 20, 12 - 13.30

In this talk, I'll present research demonstrating that people apply social interaction strategies when they engage with computer interface agents. My research shows that people read and react to nonverbal social cues in agents, and also, that designing an agent to manifest a particular social role leads to role-appropriate interactions.

I will discuss the implications of these findings for the design of and application areas for interface agents. I'll present examples of agents I've designed in research and industry contexts--examples include an agent that supports cross-cultural conversations, as well as an agent that supports completion of trouble-shooting tasks. For both of these examples, I'll discuss empirical findings from observing interactions with the agents.

I'll conclude with a discussion of my current research direction--examining the roles of non-player characters and avatars in video games, and the social psychological principles that come into play in their design.

Katherine Isbister researches and designs social interfaces and agents, using principles from social psychology. Currently a Visiting Scholar at Stanford University, and an interactive character design consultant, Isbister received her Ph.D. in 1998 from Stanford University's Communication Department. She then served a one-year post-doc at NTT's Open Lab in Kyoto, Japan, creating and empirically testing social agents to support cross-cultural communication. In 1999, Isbister was selected by Technology Review Magazine as one of 100 young innovators likely to shape the future of technology.