TY - JOUR

T1 - Affective responses to system messages in human-computer-interaction

T2 - Effects of modality and message type

AU - Pfister, Hans-Rüdiger

AU - Wollstädter, Sabine

AU - Peter, Christian

PY - 2011/7

Y1 - 2011/7

N2 - Affective responses of users to system messages in human–computer interaction are a key to study usersatisfaction. However, little is known about the particular affective patterns elicited by various types ofsystem messages. In this experimental study we examined if and how different system messages, presentedin different modalities, influence users’ affective responses. Three types of messages, inputrequests, status notifications, and error messages, were presented either as text or speech, and eitheralone or in combination with icons or sounds, while users worked on several typical computer tasks.Affective responses following system messages were assessed employing a multi-modal approach, usingsubjective rating scales as well as physiological measures. Results show that affective responses vary systematicallydepending on the type of message, and that spoken messages generally elicit more positiveaffect than written messages. Implications on how to enhance user satisfaction by appropriate messagedesign are discussed.

AB - Affective responses of users to system messages in human–computer interaction are a key to study usersatisfaction. However, little is known about the particular affective patterns elicited by various types ofsystem messages. In this experimental study we examined if and how different system messages, presentedin different modalities, influence users’ affective responses. Three types of messages, inputrequests, status notifications, and error messages, were presented either as text or speech, and eitheralone or in combination with icons or sounds, while users worked on several typical computer tasks.Affective responses following system messages were assessed employing a multi-modal approach, usingsubjective rating scales as well as physiological measures. Results show that affective responses vary systematicallydepending on the type of message, and that spoken messages generally elicit more positiveaffect than written messages. Implications on how to enhance user satisfaction by appropriate messagedesign are discussed.

KW - Psychology

KW - Affect

KW - Affective computing

KW - Interface design

KW - Physiological responses

KW - System messages

KW - Usability

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79959824045&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.intcom.2011.05.006

DO - 10.1016/j.intcom.2011.05.006

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 23

SP - 372

EP - 383

JO - Interacting with Computers

JF - Interacting with Computers

SN - 0953-5438

IS - 4

ER -