Study of honest signal: Bringing unconscious channel of communication into awareness through interactive prototype

Abstract

Efforts are made to understand people in the context of their social network; especially in unconsciously carried communication channel which Alex S. Pentland coined as 'honest signal'. This project explored 'optimizing honest signals to lessen gap between intended expression and received impression' through designed technology device. Experiment setting was controlled into 'presentation-speech situation', developed in three phases. Phase 1 was basic research, testing impressions given by postures and finding significant body-part for honest signal. In phase 2 'where and how person will be given feedback through designed device to aware his/her unconscious movement' was progressed. In Phase 3, finalized prototype- headset and shoesevaluation test was made to check if prototype helped user to control honest signal during presentation by notifying such movement. This study has tested that if people have more awareness to honest signals they are sending, they are capable of enhancing control over signals. It will enable people to optimize signals, collecting more of wanted impression than not. In communication aspect, it offers new potentials interactive device or interaction can do for people, by making what was not cognitive into realizable signals or by making certain messages stronger. © 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.