“Imagine this smart speaker to have a body”: An analysis of the external appearances and the characteristics that people associate with voice assistants
IntroductionModern 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 exper...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Computer Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomp.2022.981435/full |
| _version_ | 1798015560668151808 |
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| author | Astrid Carolus Carolin Wienrich |
| author_facet | Astrid Carolus Carolin Wienrich |
| author_sort | Astrid Carolus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionModern 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.MethodsTo bridge this gap, this study analyzes drawings of the outward appearance participants associate with voice assistants (Amazon Echo or Google Home).ResultsHuman 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.DiscussionThis 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:36:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-287c30d400604efba7bfc4c21ef4abd1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9898 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T15:36:35Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Computer Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-287c30d400604efba7bfc4c21ef4abd12022-12-22T04:15:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Computer Science2624-98982022-11-01410.3389/fcomp.2022.981435981435“Imagine this smart speaker to have a body”: An analysis of the external appearances and the characteristics that people associate with voice assistantsAstrid Carolus0Carolin Wienrich1Media Psychology, Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg, Würzburg, GermanyPsychology of Intelligent Interactive Systems, Julius-Maximilians University Würzburg, Würzurg, GermanyIntroductionModern 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.MethodsTo bridge this gap, this study analyzes drawings of the outward appearance participants associate with voice assistants (Amazon Echo or Google Home).ResultsHuman 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.DiscussionThis 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.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomp.2022.981435/fullmedia equationconversational agentssmart speakersvisualization of technologyembodiment |
| spellingShingle | Astrid Carolus Carolin Wienrich “Imagine this smart speaker to have a body”: An analysis of the external appearances and the characteristics that people associate with voice assistants Frontiers in Computer Science media equation conversational agents smart speakers visualization of technology embodiment |
| title | “Imagine this smart speaker to have a body”: An analysis of the external appearances and the characteristics that people associate with voice assistants |
| title_full | “Imagine this smart speaker to have a body”: An analysis of the external appearances and the characteristics that people associate with voice assistants |
| title_fullStr | “Imagine this smart speaker to have a body”: An analysis of the external appearances and the characteristics that people associate with voice assistants |
| title_full_unstemmed | “Imagine this smart speaker to have a body”: An analysis of the external appearances and the characteristics that people associate with voice assistants |
| title_short | “Imagine this smart speaker to have a body”: An analysis of the external appearances and the characteristics that people associate with voice assistants |
| title_sort | imagine this smart speaker to have a body an analysis of the external appearances and the characteristics that people associate with voice assistants |
| topic | media equation conversational agents smart speakers visualization of technology embodiment |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcomp.2022.981435/full |
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