Gendering the machine: preferred virtual assistant gender and realism in self-service

Jeunese A. Payne; Andrea Szymkowiak; Paul Robertson; Graham I. Johnson

doi:10.1007/978-3-642-40415-3_9

Gendering the machine: preferred virtual assistant gender and realism in self-service

Jeunese A. Payne, Andrea Szymkowiak, Paul Robertson, Graham I. Johnson

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A virtual agent is a human-like character that is designed to assist users in interactions with technology and virtual worlds. Research into the preferred visual characteristics of a virtual agent has focused on education-based agents, gaming avatars, and online help assistants. However, findings from these studies are not necessarily generalizable to other technologies, such as self-service checkouts (SSCO). This paper describes data from 578 participants, looking at the gender preferences of Virtual Assistants (VA) in a SSCO context and the impact of VA realism depending on user gender. Due to female participants’ preference for female VAs, and an overall preference for three-dimensional characters, a realistic, female VA should be used in SSCO. The results are discussed in terms of similarity-attraction theory and social role theory.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Intelligent Virtual Agents
Subtitle of host publication	13th International Conference, IVA 2013 Edinburgh, UK, August 29-31, 2013: proceedings
Editors	Ruth Aylett, Brigitte Krenn, Catherine Pelachaud, Hiroshi Shimodaira
Place of Publication	London
Publisher	Springer-Verlag
Pages	106-115
Number of pages	10
ISBN (Electronic)	9783642404153
ISBN (Print)	9783642404146
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40415-3_9
Publication status	Published - 2013
Event	13th International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents - Edinburgh, United Kingdom Duration: 29 Aug 2013 → 31 Aug 2013 Conference number: 13th

Publication series

Name	Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence
Publisher	Springer-Verlag
Volume	8108
ISSN (Print)	0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)	1611-3349

Conference

Conference	13th International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents
Abbreviated title	IVA 2013
Country	United Kingdom
City	Edinburgh
Period	29/08/13 → 31/08/13

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-642-40415-3_9

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Payne, J. A., Szymkowiak, A., Robertson, P., & Johnson, G. I. (2013). Gendering the machine: preferred virtual assistant gender and realism in self-service. In R. Aylett, B. Krenn, C. Pelachaud, & H. Shimodaira (Eds.), Intelligent Virtual Agents: 13th International Conference, IVA 2013 Edinburgh, UK, August 29-31, 2013: proceedings (pp. 106-115 ). (Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence; Vol. 8108). Springer-Verlag. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40415-3_9

Payne, Jeunese A. ; Szymkowiak, Andrea ; Robertson, Paul ; Johnson, Graham I. / Gendering the machine : preferred virtual assistant gender and realism in self-service. Intelligent Virtual Agents: 13th International Conference, IVA 2013 Edinburgh, UK, August 29-31, 2013: proceedings. editor / Ruth Aylett ; Brigitte Krenn ; Catherine Pelachaud ; Hiroshi Shimodaira. London : Springer-Verlag, 2013. pp. 106-115 (Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence).

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title = "Gendering the machine: preferred virtual assistant gender and realism in self-service",

abstract = "A virtual agent is a human-like character that is designed to assist users in interactions with technology and virtual worlds. Research into the preferred visual characteristics of a virtual agent has focused on education-based agents, gaming avatars, and online help assistants. However, findings from these studies are not necessarily generalizable to other technologies, such as self-service checkouts (SSCO). This paper describes data from 578 participants, looking at the gender preferences of Virtual Assistants (VA) in a SSCO context and the impact of VA realism depending on user gender. Due to female participants{\textquoteright} preference for female VAs, and an overall preference for three-dimensional characters, a realistic, female VA should be used in SSCO. The results are discussed in terms of similarity-attraction theory and social role theory.",

author = "Payne, {Jeunese A.} and Andrea Szymkowiak and Paul Robertson and Johnson, {Graham I.}",

year = "2013",

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isbn = "9783642404146",

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pages = "106--115 ",

editor = "Ruth Aylett and Brigitte Krenn and Catherine Pelachaud and Hiroshi Shimodaira",

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Payne, JA, Szymkowiak, A , Robertson, P & Johnson, GI 2013, Gendering the machine: preferred virtual assistant gender and realism in self-service. in R Aylett, B Krenn, C Pelachaud & H Shimodaira (eds), Intelligent Virtual Agents: 13th International Conference, IVA 2013 Edinburgh, UK, August 29-31, 2013: proceedings. Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, vol. 8108, Springer-Verlag, London, pp. 106-115 , 13th International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 29/08/13. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40415-3_9

Gendering the machine : preferred virtual assistant gender and realism in self-service. / Payne, Jeunese A.; Szymkowiak, Andrea ; Robertson, Paul ; Johnson, Graham I.

Intelligent Virtual Agents: 13th International Conference, IVA 2013 Edinburgh, UK, August 29-31, 2013: proceedings. ed. / Ruth Aylett; Brigitte Krenn; Catherine Pelachaud; Hiroshi Shimodaira. London : Springer-Verlag, 2013. p. 106-115 (Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence; Vol. 8108).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Gendering the machine

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AU - Robertson, Paul

AU - Johnson, Graham I.

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AB - A virtual agent is a human-like character that is designed to assist users in interactions with technology and virtual worlds. Research into the preferred visual characteristics of a virtual agent has focused on education-based agents, gaming avatars, and online help assistants. However, findings from these studies are not necessarily generalizable to other technologies, such as self-service checkouts (SSCO). This paper describes data from 578 participants, looking at the gender preferences of Virtual Assistants (VA) in a SSCO context and the impact of VA realism depending on user gender. Due to female participants’ preference for female VAs, and an overall preference for three-dimensional characters, a realistic, female VA should be used in SSCO. The results are discussed in terms of similarity-attraction theory and social role theory.

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Payne JA, Szymkowiak A , Robertson P , Johnson GI. Gendering the machine: preferred virtual assistant gender and realism in self-service. In Aylett R, Krenn B, Pelachaud C, Shimodaira H, editors, Intelligent Virtual Agents: 13th International Conference, IVA 2013 Edinburgh, UK, August 29-31, 2013: proceedings. London: Springer-Verlag. 2013. p. 106-115 . (Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40415-3_9