| As predicted by J. C. R. Licklider, computer interfaces are becoming more symbiotic. The future of this symbiosis is dyadic communication. The human-computer dyad is a tightly coupled human-computer system that utilizes naturalistic human nonverbal behavior as a primary means of interaction. The evolution of symbiotic computer systems is explored, and the basis of the current work is presented. Emotion and nonverbal behavior literature is also reviewed, and theory relevant to the human-computer dyad is explored in detail. A research regimen is chosen that includes controlled experiments and systems analyses. Ethological measures are presented and used throughout. For the purposes of study, the dyad is divided into three distinct categories of communication: human-computer, human-agent, and human-human mediated. In human-computer communication, experiments show that the frequency of facial expression exhibition in human-computer interaction varies significantly between baseline and other tasks, but not between the more interactive tasks. Facial expressions with emotive and cognitive correlates are observed and cataloged. Systems analyses examine two interfaces that utilize gesture and gaze as primary inputs. In human-agent communication, an experiment examines the effect of anthropomorphic representations on the appraisal of interface phenomena; these representations significantly affect the appraised agency and intelligence. Systems analyses illustrate a success and a failure of anthropomorphic representations. In human-human mediated communication, an experiment, using a gaze measure, shows that the reduction of visual scale significantly lowers communication efficacy. Systems analyses examine two mediated communication systems. |
