Does non-verbal behavior of an embodied agent matter?

摘要

This paper reflects on some of our research on embodied agents from the viewpoint of non-verbal behavior. In previous studies we aimed to investigate the utility of embodied interface agent by applying novel evaluation methods. One study tracks bio-signals in order to evaluate the impact of affective agent behavior on the stress level of users. In another study, users' eye movements were recorded to demonstrate the benefit of an embodied interface agent as a navigational guide. Since the encouraging results of these two studies mostly relied on the use of non-verbal agent behaviors, including non-verbal means to express affect and empathy as well as deictic gestures, we want to answer the question posed in the title of the current paper in the affirmative: non-verbal agent behavior matters for effective human-computer interaction.