Why Anthropomorphic User Interface Feedback Can Be Effective and Preferred by Users

Abstract

Abstract:This paper addresses and resolves an interesting question concerning the reason for anthropomorphic user interface feedback being more effective (in two of three contexts) and preferred by users compared to an equivalent non-anthropomorphic feedback. Firstly the paper will summarise the author's three internationally published experiments and results. These will show statistically significant results indicating that in two of the three contexts anthropomorphic user interface feedback is more effective and preferred by users. Secondly some of the famous work by Reeves and Nass will be introduced. This basically shows that humans behave in a social manner towards computers through a user interface. Thirdly the reasons for the obtained results by the author are inextricably linked to the work of Reeves and Nass. It can be seen that the performance results and preferences are due to the subconscious social behaviour of humans towards computers through a user interface. The conclusions reported in this paper are of significance to user interface designers as they allow one to design interfaces which match more closely our human characteristics. These in turn would enhance the profits of a software house.

Feedback presentation for mobile personalised digital physical activity coaching platforms

“…The negative outcomes regarding the use of ECA as interface seems to contradict some earlier findings (see [12] for a discussion). However, there are a few important differences between our study and these earlier studies.…”

“…One of the three experiments showed that the anthropomorphic feedback was not as effective as the non-anthropomorphic equivalent. They conclude that more research is needed to find in what contexts and for what types of feedback anthropomorphic interfaces are favored [12]. Our user experiments differ from Murano's in several ways.…”

“…A number of studies have been performed after the effects of using an ECA on the interface [12] [2]. At first sight outcomes of different studies after the users' assessments of an ECA interface seem to be contradictory.…”

Evaluation of Anthropomorphic User Interface Feedback in an Email Client Context and Affordances

“…In some cases anthropomorphic feedback is shown to be more effective and preferred by users and in some cases the converse has been shown. This is also shown in the work of Murano and his collaborators (see Murano, 2002a, 2002b, 2005, Murano, Gee and Holt, 2007and Murano, Ede and Holt, 2008.…”

“…Also in the realm of the author's work (Murano, 2002b(Murano, , 2005, a study conducted in the context of English as a foreign language pronunciation, anthropomorphic and non-anthropomorphic feedback types were compared. This experiment indicated with significant results that the anthropomorphic feedback was more effective and preferred by users.…”