The unfriendly user: exploring social reactions to chatterbots

Antonella De Angeli; Graham I. Johnson; Lynne Coventry

The unfriendly user: exploring social reactions to chatterbots

Antonella De Angeli, Graham I. Johnson, Lynne Coventry

Department of Cybersecurity and Computing

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

Abstract

This paper presents a preliminary evaluation of Alice, a chatterbot designed in order to elicit anthropomorphic attributions and emotional reactions from those who chat to ‘her’. The analysis is based on both transcripts of the interaction and user comments collected in a focus group. Results suggest that the introduction of explicit anthropomorphism in HumanComputer Interaction (HCI) is a complex phenomenon, which could generate strong negative reactions from the part of the user. The finding also demonstrates the importance of placing the development of user interfaces within a social framework as the technology tends to establish relationships with users.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings of The International Conference on Affective Human Factors Design
Editors	Martin G. Helander, Halimahtun M. Khalid, Ming Po Tham
Place of Publication	London
Publisher	ASEAN Academic Press
Pages	467–474
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Print)	9781901919288
Publication status	Published - 2001
Event	Second International Conference on Affective Human Factor Design, Singapore, 27–29 June - Singapore, Singapore Duration: 27 Jun 2001 → 29 Jun 2001 Conference number: 2nd

Conference

Conference	Second International Conference on Affective Human Factor Design, Singapore, 27–29 June
Abbreviated title	CHAD 2001
Country/Territory	Singapore
City	Singapore
Period	27/06/01 → 29/06/01

Keywords

Chatterbots
Anthropomorphism
Disembodied language
Social dynamics

Cite this

@inproceedings{e6aeaad3a6144df08b6159182e1417c4,

title = "The unfriendly user: exploring social reactions to chatterbots",

abstract = "This paper presents a preliminary evaluation of Alice, a chatterbot designed in order to elicit anthropomorphic attributions and emotional reactions from those who chat to {\textquoteleft}her{\textquoteright}. The analysis is based on both transcripts of the interaction and user comments collected in a focus group. Results suggest that the introduction of explicit anthropomorphism in HumanComputer Interaction (HCI) is a complex phenomenon, which could generate strong negative reactions from the part of the user. The finding also demonstrates the importance of placing the development of user interfaces within a social framework as the technology tends to establish relationships with users.",

author = "\{De Angeli\}, Antonella and Johnson, \{Graham I.\} and Lynne Coventry",

year = "2001",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781901919288",

pages = "467–474",

editor = "Helander, \{Martin G.\} and Khalid, \{Halimahtun M.\} and Tham, \{Ming Po\}",

booktitle = "Proceedings of The International Conference on Affective Human Factors Design",

publisher = "ASEAN Academic Press",

note = "Second International Conference on Affective Human Factor Design, Singapore, 27–29 June, CHAD 2001 ; Conference date: 27-06-2001 Through 29-06-2001",

}

De Angeli, A, Johnson, GI & Coventry, L 2001, The unfriendly user: exploring social reactions to chatterbots. in MG Helander, HM Khalid & MP Tham (eds), Proceedings of The International Conference on Affective Human Factors Design. ASEAN Academic Press, London, pp. 467–474, Second International Conference on Affective Human Factor Design, Singapore, 27–29 June, Singapore, Singapore, 27/06/01.

The unfriendly user: exploring social reactions to chatterbots. / De Angeli, Antonella; Johnson, Graham I.; Coventry, Lynne.
Proceedings of The International Conference on Affective Human Factors Design. ed. / Martin G. Helander; Halimahtun M. Khalid; Ming Po Tham. London: ASEAN Academic Press, 2001. p. 467–474.

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

TY - GEN

T1 - The unfriendly user

T2 - Second International Conference on Affective Human Factor Design, Singapore, 27–29 June

AU - De Angeli, Antonella

AU - Johnson, Graham I.

AU - Coventry, Lynne

N1 - Conference code: 2nd

PY - 2001

Y1 - 2001

N2 - This paper presents a preliminary evaluation of Alice, a chatterbot designed in order to elicit anthropomorphic attributions and emotional reactions from those who chat to ‘her’. The analysis is based on both transcripts of the interaction and user comments collected in a focus group. Results suggest that the introduction of explicit anthropomorphism in HumanComputer Interaction (HCI) is a complex phenomenon, which could generate strong negative reactions from the part of the user. The finding also demonstrates the importance of placing the development of user interfaces within a social framework as the technology tends to establish relationships with users.

AB - This paper presents a preliminary evaluation of Alice, a chatterbot designed in order to elicit anthropomorphic attributions and emotional reactions from those who chat to ‘her’. The analysis is based on both transcripts of the interaction and user comments collected in a focus group. Results suggest that the introduction of explicit anthropomorphism in HumanComputer Interaction (HCI) is a complex phenomenon, which could generate strong negative reactions from the part of the user. The finding also demonstrates the importance of placing the development of user interfaces within a social framework as the technology tends to establish relationships with users.

M3 - Conference contribution

SN - 9781901919288

SP - 467

EP - 474

BT - Proceedings of The International Conference on Affective Human Factors Design

A2 - Helander, Martin G.

A2 - Khalid, Halimahtun M.

A2 - Tham, Ming Po

PB - ASEAN Academic Press

CY - London

Y2 - 27 June 2001 through 29 June 2001

ER -

The unfriendly user: exploring social reactions to chatterbots

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

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