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Enabling emotional communication through mobile technologies
Conference presentation

Enabling emotional communication through mobile technologies

Matthew Willis
2009 University Research Conference Program Book, p.15
USC Research Conference, 2009 (Sunshine Coast, Australia, 09-Nov-2009)
University of the Sunshine Coast
2009
url
http://www.usc.edu.au/View
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Abstract

Psychology evidence based research mobile technologies emotional communication
The project aims to enhance computer mediated communications by providing users the ability to share their emotional state within social networks. We aim to facilitate emotional communication and feedback between users whilst providing valuable and unique insight into emotional behaviour in groups, empathetic response and emotional contagion. Technology is becoming more pervasive and integral to our communication needs. Usage statistics of on line social networks shows the popularity of using these services to stay in constant contact with family and friends, and with the recent increase in sales of web- enabled smart phones we now have access to these services whilst on the go. However, socia l networks do not adequately support emotion in human communication. The research aims to use modern technology (iPhones, Facebook, Twitter) to develop and support emotional communication and response between members of a social group to address the deficiencies in current computer mediated communication technologies. The project builds on evidenced based research on human emotional communications to design, develop, and evaluate how users share emotions using contemporary technologies. We have developed a scalable emotional sharing solution using web servers and iPhone applications to allow users to continuously understand and respond the emotional state of their 'friends' (contacts). Al l emotional data is stored and we can observe how emotion spreads through the social network. We track how emotion is seeded and spread between friends, groups, geographic locations and organisation. The project can track the emotional wel lbeing of the individual, team and organisation, and map the effect of emotional contagion on group behaviour. The solution allows users to understand the emotions of their 'friends' at all times so that they are encouraged to respond to their needs with support. The so lution is aligned to the business growth model of Google, Facebook, Twitter etc and we expect the project to generate interest from providers of social networks. By providing tools for emotional communication in these technologies, we can provide an experience that is closer to that of face-to-face communication allowing for more effective communication.

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