Graphic Interface for the Support of Emotional Awareness in Cooperative Systems
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Graphic Interface for the Support of Emotional Awarenessin Cooperative SystemsLuciane Maria Fadel SimãoDpto de Informática e Estatística - INE Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC Cep 88040-900 – Florianópolis – SC - Brazil+55 49 521 1208e-mail: luciane@.brWalter de Abreu CybisDpto de Informática e Estatística – INE Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina - UFSC Cep 88040-900 – Florianópolis – SC - Brazil+55 48 331 7201e-mail: cybis@inf.ufsc.brAbstractWhen dealing with the relationship between two or more persons, and especially when this relationship occurs in cooperative work, the study of emotions should focus on how these emotions can affect the collaborators’ performance and their social ties. When one is aware of an emotion, there is feeling. The conscious state may or may not affect the course of a relation between two subjects. Work, effort, action, and reaction are products influenced by feeling. This paper proposes ways of making emotions become perceptible through graphic interface. In prototyping this interface, theoretical foundations were applied that give support to emotional awareness in cooperative systems under real terms of utilization, and the use of digital puppets was validated in representing the emotions. The accomplished tests show a tendency towards improving the members' performance in cooperative work using emotional awareness.KeywordsEmotional awareness, affective computing, CSCL, interface, multi-users.INTRODUCTIONCooperative work is a learning instrument which retrieves the main values in constructing knowledge because it gives the responsibility of learning back to the first person and integrates him as a social being. Computer Supported Cooperative Work (CSCW) and Computer Supported Cooperative Learning (CSCL), supply the necessary technological base for the application of cooperation on a global scale. The interface of these systems needs to give support to new functions and information, which are necessary in the relationship between the multi-users [1]. This information refers to the others, concerning what they are doing, how, where, why, and how they, and the involved subjects, are feeling. The portrayed emotions make up a part of the communication among pairs, and they are co-authors of the cognitive processes, decisions, and interactions established among the pairs. Giving support to emotional awareness is fundamental so that the proposed work, as cooperative, develops according to this perspective.In proposing emotional awareness in cooperative systems, the gathering of information, which assists in decision-making and in the establishment of social ties among pairs, is expected.The proposal of this paper is to introduce a graphic interface which gives support to the emotional interaction among pairs in cooperative work, by means of digital puppets. Emotional awareness is obtained through the visualization of the animated puppets' facial expressions under the users' explicit command. The workload for total communication among partners is minimized because it becomes possible to communicate extensively with one click only, a click which , in turn, activates an emotional expression for the puppet. This communication occurs in a double way, since in choosing an emotional state informing the partner of his own feelings, he reflects his position regarding joint work. It is about real and active participation that emotional awareness comes into action. AFFECTIVE COMPUTINGModeling, representation, synthesis, and recognition of emotions are problems which begin to find some answers in researches related to the area of Affective Computing [2]. Based on recent theories on emotions, these researches bring back the biological characteristics of the emotions, returning them to the brain and relating them to the complex mechanism of rationality.According to Damásio [3] and Ekman [4], the facial expressions represent a universal qualifier for the emotions. The set of emotions made up of these characteristics, or in other words, of common facial expressions, in disregard to culture, would be of: surprise, joy, anger, fear, disgust, and sadness (see Figure 1). These emotions are thought of in terms of family groups. In this way, each emotion is a setof emotions related to the subject's affective state. Each family shares among its members the same characteristics as similarities among previous events, expressions, behavioral reactions, physiological activities, etc. These characteristics distinguish each family of emotions. THE INTERFACE OF EMOTIONS - CSEA(Computer Supported Emotional Awareness) This interface project follows usability principles and attempts to minimize the negative interferences of an extra quantity of information, maximizing the user's control of the tool. One of the main concern was to avoid a certain possible side effect: the distraction which the puppets may acknowledge over the users in their tasks[5]. In this case, emotional awareness could become a distraction factor and,consequently, cause more confusion than assistance.Figure 1 - Menu of emotions (0 – neutral, 1-fear, 2-disgust, 3-sadness, 4-surprise, 5-joy, 6-anger) The graphic project of the digital puppets followed a cartoon model. This would facilitate in creating sequences of animation, and in recognizing of the puppet's identity. For total communication to occur, it is necessary that the user sees himself in the puppet, as well as recognizes his partner in the other puppet (see Figure 2). The subjects involved opted for the utilization of fictitious characters, such as rabbits, dogs, and charicturized illustrations. The choice of a character is a participant's option, and its identity may or may not be revealed by the user's namewhich accompanies the puppet.Figure 2 - The Interface of emotions -CSEA The graphic project, in two dimensions, allows the creation of puppets attempting to fulfill such characteristics as kindness, affection, etc. in the user's cinematic experience,all of which are common to the characters which they know.The standard of the interface is based on the World Wide Web because, with the use of a script language, it is possible to print out dynamism and control the user's actions. This choice facilitated the implementation of the server module because of the existence of their own tools for this problem. Another advantage of this standard is the extensive use of the Internet by organizations and schools facilitating the use of the interface as a tool for interaction. Simplicity is one of the main characteristics of the project. Graphic and functional simplicity, in order to allow greater efficiency in communication, minimizing distraction, andreducing effort with a few clicks of a mouse (see Figure 3).Figure 3 - Interface of emotions with two connectedusers The interface is available at: <ftp://.br/csea/>. TESTS AND RESULTFor analysis of the interface of emotional awareness, a set of tests was created and applied to invited guests.The test consisted of an activity accomplished by using the NetMeeting's White Board 1 in cooperation with an additional person. In order that no sound or visual interference could occur, each participant used a computer in different rooms. Along with the window of the White Board, the window of the interface of emotional awareness was opened. Thus, upon accomplishing the task, the user could be able to perceive the emotional state of his partner, as well as to express his own emotional state. Analysis of the results Analysis by observationWhile the participants worked on the required task, they were observed in regard to their posture, activities, behavior, and accomplished observations.The receptivity to this project was evident, as upon receiving the invitation to take part in the testing, everyone1Copyright Microsoft Corporation.readily accepted. It was explained to the participants what emotional awareness is and how they should use the graphic interface for emotional expression. A brief report was written up about each of the buttons and their correspondence to the emotions. Concerning the interface of the White Board, the principle icons were explained, (erase, color and design selection). This introduction was administered to each pair, since the test was administered in twos. When each one was in their appropriate place, (different rooms), the task was given. However, they did not know if they received the same task or not.As the White Board is of easy utilization and very intuitive, there were no operation problems experienced by the participant users of the tests. When the partners received the same tasks, there was a certain initial discomfort until who-was-going-to-do-what was established. Usually, one of them established the working pace, starting from one of the extreme ends of the drawing, and then waiting for the partner's work. In this case, the emotions exhibited in the interface varied between happiness and surprise. Naturally, conflicts occurred concerning the order of construction - when they both desired to do the same thing. There were situations in which one undid what the other constructed. The interface was used to express this dissatisfaction through anger. It is interesting to point out that the emotion revealed by the observation of gestures, speech, and attitudes, were the same chosen in the interface by the participant users of the tests.With different tasks, the pair initiated conflict as soon as the work began. Indignation was constant, accompanied by such expressions as:• “What in the world is this guy doing?”• “I don't believe it!”• “No way!”In cases like these, the participants used the interface to express emotions considered negative, such as anger, disgust, fear, and sadness.Analysis of the questionnairesThe obtained results confirm the hypothesis that an interface of emotional awareness can help in cooperative work.Although the great majority of the participants, (90%), had never worked with the White Board, the work in cooperation seemed very pleasing to them, (85% liked working in cooperation, and 95% would like to try more times).The majority used the interface of emotions to express itself, 90% liked the interface, and 80% of them managed to identify the emotional state of their partner through the interface. Even with the application of different tasks, 100% believe that having knowledge of an emotional state helps in the relations among partners. The interface of emotions proved to be useful in assisting in the establishment of social ties. The pairs recognized each other through the interface, and its representation superimposed the individual's real, known image. As a window of interaction through emotion, the receptivity was more intense because the naturalness of the expressions encountered true correspondence. In other words, when choosing a facial expression, the user manifested himself in relation to his partner's activities, establishing a communication channel of criticism and an outlet regarding his feelings.Although the interface of emotions was not integrated with the interface of cooperative working, its extensive utilization showed the need of the partners, and mainly their desire, to express themselves emotionally.They did not verify problems with distraction because the task was simple and the user waited a few seconds to visualize what his partner was doing. During this time he acted in the interface.CONCLUSIONThe human being exists as a social being, and this human necessity for relationships encounters numerous ways of fulfillment in cooperative systems. This was verified in proposing the accomplishment of a task with a partner. Although the simplicity of the task did not imply a dispute by the coordination of the activities, this was established naturally. The social roles, thus arranged, formed a unit of two people with the same goals. This social integration is comforting, and the responsibility is accepted without imposition.This research sought out options for the modeling and representation of emotions applied as support to emotional awareness in a cooperative learning system. The modeling of emotions was returned to the user as a choice of his emotional state by means of an interface of emotions. Digital puppets were used as a form of representation of the emotions shown through his facial expressions. The portrayed emotions covered the group of basic emotions. Although the interface of emotions was not integrated in the interface of the environment of cooperative working, the tests showed that it was used intensely as a source of emotional awareness.The interface, developed to give support to emotional awareness, showed great acceptance on the behalf of the user, in cooperative working system, in positioning himself in a certain emotional state. Communicating through emotion is so natural that the interpretation of the emotional state of the partner transmits much information on the general context of work. The social ties are affirmed by the sharing of this type of information. Thus, emotional awareness helps to improve the users' performance in cooperative systems. Through this interaction, a feedback process occurs which is necessary in establishing a closed loop control. That is, the feedback allows the mapping ofthe users' active participation, and his emotional reaction can be considered as one of conscious positioning in cooperative work. In choosing an emotional state, the user reflects on his own real state, allowing an auto-analysis to take place, which leads to obtaining self-knowledge.The influence of the emotions in the life of man is so vast that much work has yet to be done to recapture a little of this influence when human relations are mediated by the computer. This work should progress with the integration of this interface in a cooperative learning system, when the teacher will be able to intervene in a student's progress by perceiving his emotional state. For the future, the need to treat the fifteen families of basic emotions, described by Ekman [4], is to be examined, and include fun, anger, contempt, contentment, repugnance, constraint, excitement, fear, guilt, pride, relief, sadness, satisfaction, sensory pleasure, and shame. This relation follows a generalist and universal classification and summarizes the inquiries and doubts created by the scientific community , being the most completely researched of all. An intensity scale would be associated to each family of emotion, causing them to become more flexible and complete. If their use is that of independent application, it is intended to aggregate the options of entrance, text, and sound to the interface.The theories on emotions supply the first steps of a model for creating and/or capturing emotions. These models could be integrated into the interface presented here, providing information on emotion read through neural, sensorial-motor, motivational, and cognitive inductors, allowing the user to choose the presentation of this reading, (generating perception in a passive way). In this possible continuity of the project, the central aspect to be treated refers to the user's autonomy on the system. The option of blocking the trace of the emotion should be on hand for the users, and belong to their total confidence. The success of a cooperative working system depends on an interface that is "invisible" to the user [6]. This invisibility depends, then, upon design requirements, which consider the user as a complete being. Reason does not exist without emotion [7]. Providing emotional awareness is a complex task, however, fundamental in the treatment of this completeness.REFERENCES1. Garcia, Octavio/ Favela,J./ Machorro, R. EmotionalAwareness in Collaborative Systems. In Proceedingsof the String Processing and Information RetrievalSymposium & International Workshop on Groupware,1999 : 296-3032. Picard, Rosalind W.. Affective Computing. M.I.T.Press, Cambridge, MA, 1997.3. Damásio, Antonio. O Erro de Descarte. São Paulo: Ed.Companhia das Letras, 1994.4. Ekman , Paul. Basic Emotions In T. Dalgleish and M.Power (Eds.). Handbook of Cognition and Emotion.Sussex, U.K.: John Wiley & Sounds, Ltd., 1999.5. Sohlenkamp, M. 1998 Supporting Group Awareness inMulti-User Environments through Perceptualization,M.Sc. dissertation, Fachbereich Mathematik-Inforamtik der Universität, Gesamthochschule, Paderborn, Denmark .6. Weiser, Mark. Creating the invisible interface.Keynote address at UIST '94 Symposium on UserInterface Software and Technology; 1994 November2; Marina del Rey, CA.7. Ledoux, Joseph. The mysterious Underpinnings ofEmotional Life. New York: A Touchstone Book, 1996.。
