From Silence to Dialogue
Boosting Collocated Social Interactions with Technology
Uğur Genç (TU Delft - Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence)
Aykut Coskun (Koç University)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
Social interactions play a crucial role in promoting personal development, mental health, and overall well-being. Despite the importance of collocated social interactions, HCI research has focused on initiating encounters rather than sustaining meaningful relationships. To address this gap, we designed Boost, a conversational aid tool that monitors the quality of social interactions between users and introduces movie-trivia based on their interests aimed at enriching their social interactions. We evaluated Boost through a study with 38 participants, findings reveal that it has potential to minimize silent moments, reduce negative feelings, enhance engagement, and improved interaction quality. Our results highlight the importance of designing future HCI tools that are context-aware, respect privacy, and enhance social interactions by supporting, not controlling, human interaction dynamics. We advocate for a balanced approach that acknowledges the complexity of social interactions, recognizing the value of silence and user autonomy.
help_outline