Human Computer Interaction
Developing an Effective Social Presence System for Older Adults: The Connected Vitality Network
Achilleas P. Achilleos, Christos Mettouris, George A. Papadopoulos, Katja Neureiter, Claudia Rappold, Christiane Moser, Manfred Tscheligi, Lóránt Vajda, András Tóth, Péter Hanák, Omar Jimenez, Robbert Smit
Abstract
Communication over distance via the use of communication technologies aims to offer and enable contact for older adults, who are typically restricted in terms of mobility and tend to suffer from loneliness due to the lack of social inclusion. Technologies enable communication over distance but suffer greatly in terms of providing the feeling of being connected, lacking also social presence during a remote contact. The Connected Vitality Network puts older adults at the centre of attention to study their needs for designing suitable human computer interaction methods and implement a social (tele)-presence system, which enables closeness and promotes social inclusion. Key research studies, workshop results, design principles and implementation details are presented in this paper.
Keywords
social presence, human computer interaction, social inclusion, social interaction, communication systems
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Context Relevant Persuasive Interaction and Design: Consideration of Human Factors Influencing B2C Persuasive Interaction
Muna M. Alhammad, Stephen R. Gulliver
Abstract
The revolutions of electronic and mobile commerce have opened up unique opportunities for global marketing and business to consumer (B2C) persuasive interaction; with the aim of influencing user behavior. The success or failure of such persuasive interaction is impacted by cultural, social, and personal dimensions. Accordingly, failure to consider such dimensions risks the user forming a negative attitude towards retailer’s websites or mobile applications, which subsequently threatens customer behavior. A better understanding of human factors influencing the way people perceive B2C persuasive interaction is needed. This paper is introduces the concept of a context relevant persuasive interaction and proposes a guideline for designing relevant B2C persuasive interaction.
Keywords
E-Commerce, B2C Persuasive Interaction, Consumer Online Behavior, Human Factors, Culture Customization, Personalization
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Evaluating Speech Synthesis in a Mobile Context: Audio Presentation of Facebook, Twitter and RSS
Mathew Aylett, Yolanda Vazquez-Alvarez, Lynne Baillie
Abstract
This paper presents an evaluation of a podcast service that aggregates data from Facebook, Twitter and RSS feeds, using speech synthesis. The service uses a novel approach to speech synthesis generation, where XML markup is used to control both the speech synthesis and the sound design of a resulting podcast. A two-phase evaluation was carried out: 1) participants listening to the podcasts on desktop computers, 2) participants listening to the podcasts while walking. Our findings show that participants preferred shorter podcasts with sound effects and background music, and were affected by the surrounding environmental noise. However, audio advertising which is part of the service did not have a significant negative effect. Another finding was that the advantage of using multiple voices for content segmentation may have been undermined by difficulties in listener adaptation. The work is part of a new approach to speech synthesis provision, where its style of rendition forms a part of the application design and it is evaluated within an application context.
Keywords
speech synthesis, evaluation, mobile systems, auditory interfaces
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.
Transmeta Design: Adding Transparency and Meta-communication to Web Services Design
Teresa Onorati, Alessio Malizia, Jasna Kuljis
Abstract
In this paper, we propose an approach for enhancing the usability of Web services. Our approach is based on a set of common interaction characteristics permeating through several interaction design methodologies, such as User-Centred Design, Participatory Design, Meta-Design and Semiotic Engineering. We identified transparency and meta-communication as two characteristics of user interfaces that can be effective in enhancing Web services usability. We call the new design approach, based on the aforementioned characteristics, Transmeta Design. Finally, we present a case study that demonstrates the application of our approach.
Keywords
Interaction Design, HCI Theory, Usability
Full text is available at IEEE Xplore digital library.