Effects of a Social Robot's Autonomy and Group Orientation on Human Decision-Making

Social attributes of intelligent robots are important for human-robot systems. This paper investigates influences of robot autonomy (i.e., high versus low) and group orientation (i.e., ingroup versus outgroup) on a human decision-making process. We conducted a laboratory experiment with 48 college students and tested the hypotheses with MANCOVA. We find that a robot with high autonomy has greater influence on human decisions than a robot with low autonomy. No significant effect is found on group orientation or on the interaction between group orientation and autonomy level. The results provide implications for social robot design

The Magic of Slow-to-Fast and Constant: Evaluating Time Perception of Progress Bars by Bayesian Model

Objective: We aimed to use adaptive psychophysics methods, which is a Bayesian Model, to measure users' time perception of various progress bar quantitatively. Background: Progress bar informs users about the status of ongoing processes. Progress bars frequently display nonuniform speed patterns, such as acceleration and deceleration. However, which progress bar is perceived faster remain unclear. Methods: We measured the point of subject equality (PSE) of the constant progress bar toward four different 5-second progress bars with a non-constant speed. To measure PSE, in each trial, a constant progress bar and a non-constant progress bar were presented to participants. Participants needed to judge which one is shorter. Based on their choice, the model generated the time duration of constant progress bar in next trial. After 40 trials for each non-constant progress bar, the PSE was calculated by the model. Eye tracking was recorded during the experiment.Results: Our results show that the constant progress bar and speed-up progress bar are perceived to be faster. The anchoring effect fits the results of our study, indicating that the final part of the progress bar is more important for time perception. Moreover, the eye-tracking results indicate that the progress bar is perceived to be slower is related to the overload of cognitive resources.Conclusion: The constant progress bar and speed-up progress bar are perceived as the quickest. Application: The results suggest that UX design can use constant or speed-up progress bar, in order to improve user experience in waiting

Player immersion in the computer game narrative

Abstract. The main characteristics of the computer game narrative are interactive and nonlinear, so this study proposes a questionnaire aim at studying player immersion in the computer game narrative. To evaluate the questionnaire, a survey was conducted on the Internet. After factor analysis and reliability test, an instrument for measuring player immersion were obtained. This instrument not only can be applied to the computer game narrative, it also ca be used to measure user experience in story-oriented virtual reality

Seven HCI Grand Challenges

This article aims to investigate the Grand Challenges which arise in the current and emerging landscape of rapid technological evolution towards more intelligent interactive technologies, coupled with increased and widened societal needs, as well as individual and collective expectations that HCI, as a discipline, is called upon to address. A perspective oriented to humane and social values is adopted, formulating the challenges in terms of the impact of emerging intelligent interactive technologies on human life both at the individual and societal levels. Seven Grand Challenges are identified and presented in this article: Human-Technology Symbiosis; Human-Environment Interactions; Ethics, Privacy and Security; Well-being, Health and Eudaimonia; Accessibility and Universal Access; Learning and Creativity; and Social Organization and Democracy. Although not exhaustive, they summarize the views and research priorities of an international interdisciplinary group of experts, reflecting different scientific perspectives, methodological approaches and application domains. Each identified Grand Challenge is analyzed in terms of: concept and problem definition; main research issues involved and state of the art; and associated emerging requirements

Barriers to improve physician–patient communication in a primary care setting: perspectives of Chinese physicians

This study aims to evaluate Chinese physicians’ performance of communicating with patients in a primary care setting, and to discuss barriers to improving physician–patient communication from physicians’ perspectives. Physicians’ performance in communicating with patients during primary care consultations were evaluated using a self-developed communication assessment checklist. Field observations of 7 primary care providers were conducted and their performance in 182 consultations was observed and assessed. In-depth interviews were carried out with each physician after the observations. The results of observations indicated that Chinese physicians generally performed poorly in interacting with patients and their communication style relied mainly on their personality and experience. The results of interviews revealed four barriers to improving physician–patient communication, which were the low medical literacy of patients, the high workload for physicians, the low awareness of communication skills and the adoption of defensive behaviors among physicians