Backchannels: Quantity, Type and Timing Matters

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    Abstract

    In a perception experiment, we systematically varied the quantity, type and timing of backchannels. Participants viewed stimuli of a real speaker side-by-side with an animated listener and rated how human-like they perceived the latter's backchannel behavior. In addition, we obtained measures of appropriateness and optionality for each backchannel from key strokes. This approach allowed us to analyze the influence of each of the factors on entire fragments and on individual backchannels. The originally performed type and timing of a backchannel appeared to be more human-like, compared to a switched type or random timing. In addition, we found that nods are more often appropriate than vocalizations. For quantity, too few or too many backchannels per minute appeared to reduce the quality of the behavior. These findings are important for the design of algorithms for the automatic generation of backchannel behavior for artificial listeners.
    Original languageUndefined
    Title of host publicationInternational Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents (IVA 2011)
    EditorsH.H. Vilhjálmsson, S. Kopp, S. Marsella, K.R. Thórisson
    Place of PublicationBerlin
    PublisherSpringer
    Pages228-239
    Number of pages12
    ISBN (Print)978-3-642-23973-1
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2011
    Event11th International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents, IVA 2011 - Reykjavik, Iceland
    Duration: 15 Sept 201117 Sept 2011
    Conference number: 11

    Publication series

    NameLecture Notes in Computer Science
    PublisherSpringer Verlag
    Volume6895

    Conference

    Conference11th International Conference on Intelligent Virtual Agents, IVA 2011
    Abbreviated titleIVA
    Country/TerritoryIceland
    CityReykjavik
    Period15/09/1117/09/11

    Keywords

    • METIS-278827
    • Artificial Listener
    • Backchannel behavior
    • EWI-20575
    • Perception
    • EC Grant Agreement nr.: FP7/211486
    • HMI-IA: Intelligent Agents
    • IR-78133

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