An imaginary friend that connects with the user's emotions

Abstract

In this paper we present a metaphor of an Imaginary Friend that walks along with the user. Due to a special bond with the user, the Imaginary Friend can see the emotions that the human companion is feeling glowing around her. As the user moves around she leaves behind emotion cookies that the Imaginary Friend will collect and treasure. In order to enable rich and playful interactions in the virtual-real continuum the implementation of the Imaginary Friend responds to motion, to the electrodermal activity and resorts to GPS coordinates. The Imaginary Friend was tested with several users to evaluate the connection between humans and this creature that lives in the border that separates imagination and reality.

Expanding the Magic Circle in Pervasive Casual Play

“…When this happens, the Imaginary Friend asks what the user is feeling and collects an emotion cookie that is stored inside a jar. The previously collected emotions cookies can also be consulted in a map [13].…”

Challenges in Designing Smarter Mobile User Experiences

“…More "outside the box" alternative solutions can be devised, such as the Imaginary Friend (Reis and Correia, 2011). The Imaginary Friend is a virtual character that walks along with the user and detects changes in his arousal through an electrodermal activity sensor attached to the user's wrist.…”