Conveying emotion in remote computer-mediated-communication

Abstract

Having the capability to express emotion via remote Computer-Mediated-Communication (CMC) systems may enhance decision making. Thirty-two subjects participated in a simulated remote CMC group-decision-making session. Seventeen subjects had emotional icons available, although use of these icons was optional. The remaining 15 subjects did not have icons available. Dependent measures included frequency of icon usage, conformity, quality of decision, and responses to a subjective questionnaire. The results indicated that subjects used icons when available and liked using them. Finally, subjective questionnaire data indicated that having emotional icons available seemed to make geographically-dispersed CMC more appealing.