Dimensional Affect and Expression in Natural and Mediated Interaction
This work offers a theoretical reframing for researchers in human-computer interaction, but it is incremental as it builds on existing debates without introducing new methods or data.
The paper addresses the compatibility of dimensional and categorical theories of affect representation, proposing a reformulated approach for studying human affect in expression within HCI and HCHI contexts, illustrated with examples from recent research projects.
There is a perceived controversy as to whether the cognitive representation of affect is better modelled using a dimensional or categorical theory. This paper first suggests that these views are, in fact, compatible. The paper then discusses this theme and related issues in reference to a commonly stated application domain of research on human affect and expression: human computer interaction (HCI). The novel suggestion here is that a more realistic framing of studies of human affect in expression with reference to HCI and, particularly HCHI (Human-Computer-Human Interaction) entails some re-formulation of the approach to the basic phenomena themselves. This theme is illustrated with several examples from several recent research projects.