Connect With Me. Exploring Influencing Factors in a Human-Technology Relationship Based on Regular Chatbot Use

Companion technologies, such as social robots and conversational chatbots, take increasing responsibility for daily tasks and support our physical and mental health. Especially in the domain of healthcare, where technologies are often applied for long-term use, our experience with and relationship t...

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Autores principales: Lara Christoforakos, Nina Feicht, Simone Hinkofer, Annalena Löscher, Sonja F. Schlegl, Sarah Diefenbach
Formato: article
Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021
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Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/37ffd8307f70424ea80455a6573b1445
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spelling oai:doaj.org-article:37ffd8307f70424ea80455a6573b14452021-11-18T05:31:59ZConnect With Me. Exploring Influencing Factors in a Human-Technology Relationship Based on Regular Chatbot Use2673-253X10.3389/fdgth.2021.689999https://doaj.org/article/37ffd8307f70424ea80455a6573b14452021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2021.689999/fullhttps://doaj.org/toc/2673-253XCompanion technologies, such as social robots and conversational chatbots, take increasing responsibility for daily tasks and support our physical and mental health. Especially in the domain of healthcare, where technologies are often applied for long-term use, our experience with and relationship to such technologies become ever more relevant. Based on a 2-week interaction period with a conversational chatbot, our study (N = 58) explores the relationship between humans and technology. In particular, our study focuses on felt social connectedness of participants to the technology, possibly related characteristics of technology and users (e.g., individual tendency to anthropomorphize, individual need to belong), as well as possibly affected outcome variables (e.g., desire to socialize with other humans). The participants filled in short daily and 3 weekly questionnaires. Results showed that interaction duration and intensity positively predicted social connectedness to the chatbot. Thereby, perceiving the chatbot as anthropomorphic mediated the interrelation of interaction intensity and social connectedness to the chatbot. Also, the perceived social presence of the chatbot mediated the relationship between interaction duration as well as interaction intensity and social connectedness to the chatbot. Characteristics of the user did not affect the interrelations of chatbot interaction duration or intensity and perceived anthropomorphism or social presence. Furthermore, we did not find a negative correlation between felt social connectedness of users to the technology and their desire to socialize with other humans. In sum, our findings provide both theoretical and practical contributions. Our study suggests that regular interaction with a technology can foster feelings of social connectedness, implying transferability of dynamics known from interpersonal interaction. Moreover, social connectedness could be supported by technology design that facilitates perceptions of anthropomorphism and social presence. While such means could help to establish an intense relationship between users and technology and long-term engagement, the contexts in which anthropomorphic design is, actually, the means of choice should be carefully reflected. Future research should examine individual and societal consequences to foster responsible technology development in healthcare and beyond.Lara ChristoforakosNina FeichtSimone HinkoferAnnalena LöscherSonja F. SchleglSarah DiefenbachFrontiers Media S.A.articlehuman-computer interactionhuman-technology relationshipsocial connectednessanthropomorphismsocial presencedigital health technologiesMedicineRPublic aspects of medicineRA1-1270Electronic computers. Computer scienceQA75.5-76.95ENFrontiers in Digital Health, Vol 3 (2021)
institution DOAJ
collection DOAJ
language EN
topic human-computer interaction
human-technology relationship
social connectedness
anthropomorphism
social presence
digital health technologies
Medicine
R
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Electronic computers. Computer science
QA75.5-76.95
spellingShingle human-computer interaction
human-technology relationship
social connectedness
anthropomorphism
social presence
digital health technologies
Medicine
R
Public aspects of medicine
RA1-1270
Electronic computers. Computer science
QA75.5-76.95
Lara Christoforakos
Nina Feicht
Simone Hinkofer
Annalena Löscher
Sonja F. Schlegl
Sarah Diefenbach
Connect With Me. Exploring Influencing Factors in a Human-Technology Relationship Based on Regular Chatbot Use
description Companion technologies, such as social robots and conversational chatbots, take increasing responsibility for daily tasks and support our physical and mental health. Especially in the domain of healthcare, where technologies are often applied for long-term use, our experience with and relationship to such technologies become ever more relevant. Based on a 2-week interaction period with a conversational chatbot, our study (N = 58) explores the relationship between humans and technology. In particular, our study focuses on felt social connectedness of participants to the technology, possibly related characteristics of technology and users (e.g., individual tendency to anthropomorphize, individual need to belong), as well as possibly affected outcome variables (e.g., desire to socialize with other humans). The participants filled in short daily and 3 weekly questionnaires. Results showed that interaction duration and intensity positively predicted social connectedness to the chatbot. Thereby, perceiving the chatbot as anthropomorphic mediated the interrelation of interaction intensity and social connectedness to the chatbot. Also, the perceived social presence of the chatbot mediated the relationship between interaction duration as well as interaction intensity and social connectedness to the chatbot. Characteristics of the user did not affect the interrelations of chatbot interaction duration or intensity and perceived anthropomorphism or social presence. Furthermore, we did not find a negative correlation between felt social connectedness of users to the technology and their desire to socialize with other humans. In sum, our findings provide both theoretical and practical contributions. Our study suggests that regular interaction with a technology can foster feelings of social connectedness, implying transferability of dynamics known from interpersonal interaction. Moreover, social connectedness could be supported by technology design that facilitates perceptions of anthropomorphism and social presence. While such means could help to establish an intense relationship between users and technology and long-term engagement, the contexts in which anthropomorphic design is, actually, the means of choice should be carefully reflected. Future research should examine individual and societal consequences to foster responsible technology development in healthcare and beyond.
format article
author Lara Christoforakos
Nina Feicht
Simone Hinkofer
Annalena Löscher
Sonja F. Schlegl
Sarah Diefenbach
author_facet Lara Christoforakos
Nina Feicht
Simone Hinkofer
Annalena Löscher
Sonja F. Schlegl
Sarah Diefenbach
author_sort Lara Christoforakos
title Connect With Me. Exploring Influencing Factors in a Human-Technology Relationship Based on Regular Chatbot Use
title_short Connect With Me. Exploring Influencing Factors in a Human-Technology Relationship Based on Regular Chatbot Use
title_full Connect With Me. Exploring Influencing Factors in a Human-Technology Relationship Based on Regular Chatbot Use
title_fullStr Connect With Me. Exploring Influencing Factors in a Human-Technology Relationship Based on Regular Chatbot Use
title_full_unstemmed Connect With Me. Exploring Influencing Factors in a Human-Technology Relationship Based on Regular Chatbot Use
title_sort connect with me. exploring influencing factors in a human-technology relationship based on regular chatbot use
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
publishDate 2021
url https://doaj.org/article/37ffd8307f70424ea80455a6573b1445
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