Why anthropomorphic user interface feedback can be effective and preferred by users

Abstract

This paper addresses and resolves an interesting question concerning the reason for anthropomorphic user interface feedback being more effective (in two of three contexts) and preferred by users compared to an equivalent non-anthropomorphic feedback. Firstly the paper will summarise the author's three internationally published experiments and results. These will show statistically significant results indicating that in two of the three contexts anthropomorphic user interface feedback is more effective and preferred by users. Secondly some of the famous work by Reeves and Nass will be introduced. This basically shows that humans behave in a social manner towards computers through a user interface. Thirdly the reasons for the obtained results by the author are inextricably linked to the work of Reeves and Nass. It can be seen that the performance results and preferences are due to the subconscious social behaviour of humans towards computers through a user interface. The conclusions reported in this paper are of significance to user interface designers as they allow one to design interfaces which match more closely our human characteristics. These in turn would enhance the profits of a software house.