Papers

Embodied Conversational Agents (also known as ECA) are animated software agents (usually very similar to the human figure) which represent the possibility of extending the aim of common conversation systems and perform non appropriate verbal behavior, such as facial expressions, looks, gestures and processing of natural language in all its levels, contributing to a better understanding of a message. Bickmore (2003) defines such agents as entities which use, in real time, speech, gestures, observation (among... Read more

This paper presents the NECA approach to the generation of dialogues between Embodied Conversational Agents (ECAs). This approach consist of the automated constructtion of an abstract script for an entire dialogue (cast in terms of dialogue acts), which is incrementally enhanced by a series of modules and finally ”performed” by means of text, speech and body language, by a cast of ECAs. The approach makes it possible to automatically produce a large variety of highly... Read more

This research compares the usability and efficiency of a course-advising chat bot with menu driven FAQs (frequently asked questions). Based on a survey and user interviews, a text-based FAQ system was created and compared with a chat bot that was developed to address library and information science (LIS) graduate student course and program related questions. The students conducted tasks with both the chat bot and FAQ systems. The usability and effectiveness of the functionality and... Read more

Intelligent agents – software components designed to perform complex tasks for the user (with or without the presence of the user) – are used in a variety of settings, from instant messaging and web auctions, to ATM network management and air traffic control systems. The technology also has applicability within libraries, adding a level of user-oriented control and flexibility to activities such as digital collection management and virtual reference. The use of intelligent agents to... Read more

The number of virtual assistants has grown rapidly in the last decade. Advances in computer technology, artificial intelligence and natural language processing have led to breakthroughs in rapidly emerging technologies such as personal agents and virtual assistants. Among many interesting applications of virtual assistants the field of statistics seems to be very promising. Advanced features of virtual assistants shall overcome several user-interface problems in the field of statistics. This paper present advantages and drawbacks of... Read more

Intelligent agents, a vast family of computer applications, automates a number of performed tasks ranging from simple macros in Excel or Word, to the complex systems of artificial intelligence capable of learning during the operation, detect problems and to formulate adequate solutions to it. Electronic agents are software programs performing specific tasks and having the necessary knowledge to executing them. They constitute autonomous and intelligent tools, they can interact with their environment and communicate with other... Read more

What is the hallmark of success in human-agent interaction? In animation and robotics, many have concentrated in the looks of the agent - whether the appearance is realistic of lifelike. We present an alternative benchmark that lies in the dyad and not the agent alone: Does the agent's behavior evoke intersubjectivity from the user? That is, in both conscious and unconscious communication, do users react to behaviorally realistic agents in the same way they react... Read more

One of the biggest obstacles for constructing effective sociable virtual humans lies in the failure of machines to recognize the desires, feelings and intentions of the human user. Virtual humans lack the ability to fully understand and decode the communication signals human users emit when communicating with each other. This article describes our research in overcoming this problem by developing senses for the virtual humans which enables them to hear and understand human speech,... Read more

In this paper we survey the state of the art in direct and indirect human computer interaction based biometrics. Direct HCI biometrics are based on abilities, style, preference, knowledge, or strategy used by people while working with a computer. The indirect HCI-based biometrics are events that can be obtained by monitoring users’ HCI behavior indirectly via observable low-level actions of computer software. We examine current research and analyze the types of features used to describe... Read more

In face-to-face dialogue, the participants have visible as well as audible resources for social communication, that is, not just words and prosody, but also hand gestures, facial displays, gaze direction and timing, body orientation, and objects in their shared environment. We propose that some non-verbal acts play an important role in the participants' collaboration, so that the study ofthese non-verbal acts in dialogue is a promising way to understand basic processes in social communication. Read more