University of Twente Student Theses
Feedback presentation for physical activity coaching: by an embodied conversational agent or by a simple e-mail?
Wiekens, Adri (2011) Feedback presentation for physical activity coaching: by an embodied conversational agent or by a simple e-mail?
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| Abstract: | "In this study we compare two ways to present feedback by a digital coaching system that helps clients to improve or sustain their physical activity level in daily life. One way is by means of a simple e-mail sent to the user; the other way is by means of an embodied conversational character that reads the feedback message aloud. The comparison is conducted by means of an experiment with 20 test subjects who used the coaching system, monitoring their physical activity by means of an accelerometer, for a period of 6 weeks. 10 of them received feedback by an embodied conversational agent, from here on refered to as ECA, and 10 by means of e-mail. We measured effectiveness as well as perception of the feedback presentation by means of validated questionnaires. The overal conclusion was that there was a significant difference in measured quality of coaching in favor of the coaching system that made use of ECA coaching. The results also included that clients found the ECA more likable than the e-mail feedback. The perceived intelligence of the coach is significantly higher when feedback is presented by an ECA than when presented by e-mail. It seems that feedback presentation by an ECA has a positive effect on adherence. The ECA makes the client feel personally addressed by the coach. This was also demonstrated with a negative response from participants when the ECA mispronounced the participants name, showing that it is important that the ECA pronounces the name of the client in a correct way. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | EEMCS: Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science |
| Subject: | 54 computer science |
| Programme: | Interaction Technology MSc (60030) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/61003 |
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