Implicit data collection is used in human computer interaction to gather data about the user in an implicit, non invasive way.

Overview

The collection of user related data in human-computer interaction is used to adapt the computer interface

Graphical user interface

In computing, a graphical user interface is a type of user interface that allows users to interact with electronic devices with images rather than text commands. GUIs can be used in computers, hand-held devices such as MP3 players, portable media players or gaming devices, household appliances and...

 to the end user. The data collected are used to build a user model

User modeling

User modeling is a subdivision of human–computer interaction and describes theprocess of building up and modifying a user model. The main goal of user modeling is customization and adaptation of systems to the user's specific needs. The system needs to "say the 'right' thing at the 'right' time in...

. The user model is then used to help the application to filter the information for the end user. Such systems are useful in recommender applications, military applications (implicit stress detection) and others.

Channels for collecting data

The system can record the user's explicit interaction and thus build an MPEG7 usage history log. Furthermore the system can use other channels to gather information about the user's emotional state

Emotion

Emotion is a complex psychophysiological experience of an individual's state of mind as interacting with biochemical and environmental influences. In humans, emotion fundamentally involves "physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience." Emotion is associated with mood,...

. The following implicit channels have been used so far to get the affective state of the end user:

• facial activity
• posture activity
• hand tension and activity
• gestural activity
• vocal expression
• language and choice of words
• electrodermal activity

Emotional spaces

The detected emotional value is usually described any of the two most popular notations:

• a 3D emotional vector: valence
  Valence (psychology)
  Valence, as used in psychology, especially in discussing emotions, means the intrinsic attractiveness or aversiveness of an event, object, or situation. However, the term is also used to characterize and categorize specific emotions. For example, the emotions popularly referred to as "negative",...
  
  , arousal
  Arousal
  Arousal is a physiological and psychological state of being awake or reactive to stimuli. It involves the activation of the reticular activating system in the brain stem, the autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure and a condition of...
  
  , dominance
  Dominance
  Dominance may refer to:* Dominance , an aspect of virtual inheritance in the C++ programming language* Dominance , in economics, the degree of inequality in market share distribution...
  
  
• degree of affiliation to the 6 basic emotions (sadness
  Sadness
  Sadness is emotional pain associated with, or characterized by feelings of disadvantage, loss, despair, helplessness, sorrow, and rage. When sad, people often become outspoken, less energetic, and emotional...
  
  , happiness
  Happiness
  Happiness is a mental state of well-being characterized by positive emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy. A variety of biological, psychological, religious, and philosophical approaches have striven to define happiness and identify its sources....
  
  , anger
  Anger
  Anger is an automatic response to ill treatment. It is the way a person indicates he or she will not tolerate certain types of behaviour. It is a feedback mechanism in which an unpleasant stimulus is met with an unpleasant response....
  
  , fear
  Fear
  Fear is a distressing negative sensation induced by a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger...
  
  , disgust
  Disgust
  Disgust is a type of aversion that involves withdrawing from a person or object with strong expressions of revulsion whether real or pretended. It is one of the basic emotions and is typically associated with things that are regarded as unclean, inedible, infectious, gory or otherwise offensive...
  
  , surprise
  Surprise
  Surprise may refer to:* Surprise , a brief emotional state experienced as the result of an unexpected significant event-Places:* Surprise, Arizona* Surprise, Indiana* Surprise, Nebraska* Surprise Station, California or Surprise, California...
  
  )

External links

• Evaluating affective interactions: Alternatives to asking what users feel Rosalind Picard, Shaundra Briant Daily