“Imagine this smart speaker to have a body”: An analysis of the external appearances and the characteristics that people associate with voice assistants
Please always quote using this URN: urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-297175
- Introduction Modern digital devices, such as conversational agents, simulate human–human interactions to an increasing extent. However, their outward appearance remains distinctly technological. While research revealed that mental representations of technology shape users' expectations and experiences, research on technology sending ambiguous cues is rare. Methods To bridge this gap, this study analyzes drawings of the outward appearance participants associate with voice assistants (Amazon Echo or Google Home). Results Human beingsIntroduction Modern digital devices, such as conversational agents, simulate human–human interactions to an increasing extent. However, their outward appearance remains distinctly technological. While research revealed that mental representations of technology shape users' expectations and experiences, research on technology sending ambiguous cues is rare. Methods To bridge this gap, this study analyzes drawings of the outward appearance participants associate with voice assistants (Amazon Echo or Google Home). Results Human beings and (humanoid) robots were the most frequent associations, which were rated to be rather trustworthy, conscientious, agreeable, and intelligent. Drawings of the Amazon Echos and Google Homes differed marginally, but “human,” “robotic,” and “other” associations differed with respect to the ascribed humanness, consciousness, intellect, affinity to technology, and innovation ability. Discussion This study aims to further elaborate on the rather unconscious cognitive and emotional processes elicited by technology and discusses the implications of this perspective for developers, users, and researchers.…
Author: | Astrid Carolus, Carolin Wienrich |
---|---|
URN: | urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-297175 |
Document Type: | Journal article |
Faculties: | Fakultät für Humanwissenschaften (Philos., Psycho., Erziehungs- u. Gesell.-Wissensch.) / Institut Mensch - Computer - Medien |
Language: | English |
Parent Title (English): | Frontiers in Computer Science |
ISSN: | 2624-9898 |
Year of Completion: | 2022 |
Volume: | 4 |
Article Number: | 981435 |
Source: | Frontiers in Computer Science (2022) 4:981435. doi: 10.3389/fcomp.2022.981435 |
DOI: | https://doi.org/10.3389/fcomp.2022.981435 |
Dewey Decimal Classification: | 1 Philosophie und Psychologie / 15 Psychologie / 150 Psychologie |
Tag: | conversational agents; embodiment; media equation; smart speakers; visualization of technology |
Release Date: | 2023/04/20 |
Date of first Publication: | 2022/11/24 |
Open-Access-Publikationsfonds / Förderzeitraum 2022 | |
Licence (German): | CC BY: Creative-Commons-Lizenz: Namensnennung 4.0 International |