Events - Colloquia & Seminars

CCIS Colloquia Spring 2005

Affective Computing: transforming the relationships between products, environments, and user experience.

Winslow Burleson
MIT Media Lab

Date:Jan 28, 2005
Talk:10:00am, 366 West Village H

Abstract

Affective Computing is leading to a deeper understanding of people's emotional relationships with products, environments, and experience. Through exploratory design and user testing of smart systems, embedded technologies, and collaborative environments researchers are developing a new framework for interaction design. Real-time affective sensing is being used to measure and interpret elements of user experience such as physiology, contextual actions, and social interactions. This awareness enables dynamic tailoring of function and focus, to affect user experience and outcome. For example, an expressive Affective Learning Companion sensing user interest through patterns of posture, facial expression, pressure exerted on a mouse, and skin conductivity might choose to delay intervention to allow the user to continue exploration. On the other hand, if frustration were sensed, the companion might display concern through appearance and body posture as it engages in non-verbal expression as a form of empathy. This interaction could provide social support and draw attention to the user's affect, to facilitate self-awareness and mitigate the negative impact of frustration. These interactions form relationships between people, products, environments, and experiences that are enhanced because they take into account emotions and context. Investigations at the confluence of affect, experience, and usage are transforming the design of information technology.

Biography

Winslow Burleson is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Affective Computing Group at the MIT Media Lab. He received a BA in Physics from Rice University and an MSE from Stanford University in Product Design. He has taught brainstorming and visual thinking at Stanford and has worked at IBM Research, the SETI Institute, Space Telescope Science Institute, and UNICEF. His research addresses real-time affective sensing, relationship building, and user experience.