Multiuser Human-Computer Interaction Settings: Preliminary Evidence of Online Shopping Platform Use by Couples

Abstract

The phenomenon of multiple users interacting together with a single shared system interface to perform a task (i.e., a multiuser human-computer interaction) is under-investigated in the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) literature, yet it shows promising avenues for research. For example, little is known about cross-level influences driving collaborative use of a shared system interface, and the literature lacks knowledge about collective adaptation of users to triggers in this setting. The present work contributes to contemporary research on multiuser HCI with system interfaces. As an initial effort, it focusses on the joint use of online shopping platforms by couples. A survey is conducted with 390 respondents in the USA about couples’ habits regarding joint online shopping. Results suggest that joint online shopping is overwhelmingly common among couples and that they engage in such activity in a wide variety of ergonomic layouts. Our findings constitute preliminary evidence and intrinsically call for more researchers’ interest in investigating emotional, cognitive and behavioral dynamics taking place when multiple users jointly use system interfaces. Such research endeavors may ultimately inform and optimize multiuser system designs and corresponding products and services.