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Lynn Streeter--Panel Organizer

U S WEST Technologies
4001 Discovery Dr.
Boulder, CO 80303
303-541-4181
lstreet@advtech.uswest.com

Sara Keisler

Department of Social and Decision Sciences
Carnegie Mellon University
5000 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
kiesler+@andrew.cmu.edu

Clifford Nass Department of Communication
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-205
nass@leland.stanford.edu

Ben Shneiderman

Department of Computer Science University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
bens@cs.umd.edu

© ACM

Abstract

This panel will debate whether, when, and why interfaces should take on human characteristics, such as assume particular personality styles, interact with user in socially meanful terms, use natural language as a means of communicating, etc. Some will argue that interfaces are enhanced by judicious use of social interactions styles while others argue that that users prefer direct control and manipulation of interfaces to anthropomorphic interaction styles, as seen in talking automobiles or talking automatic teller machines. Some panelists will argue that under appropriate circumstances social characteristics can enhance the interface and make it more likable by the user. Other panelists will argue that data has repeatedly shown that social interaction styles are eshewed by users.

This debate is particularly timely given the widespread interest ins software agents and how they should be designed. There are several behaviors agents could display (anthropomorphic presentation, adaptive behavior, accept vague goal specification, give the user just what is need, work while the user sleeps or work in places that the user is not physically present). Which of these are important to include or exclude from an interface will be debated.

Keywords:

agents, personality, direct manipulation, social interaction, social actors