The Media Equation: How People Treat Computers, Television, and New Media Like Real People and Places / Edition 1

by Byron Reeves, Clifford Nass

Overview

Can human beings relate to computer or television programs in the same way they relate to other human beings? Based on numerous psychological studies, this book concludes that people not only can but do treat computers, televisions, and new media as real people and places. Studies demonstrate that people are "polite" to computers; that they treat computers with female voices differently than "male" ones; that large faces on a screen can invade our personal space; and that on-screen and real-life motion can provoke the same physical responses. Using everyday language to engage readers interested in psychology, communication, and computer technology, Reeves and Nass detail how this knowledge can help in designing a wide range of media.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781575860534
Publisher:	Center for the Study of Language and Inf
Publication date:	01/28/2003
Series:	Byron Reeves and Clifford Nass Series
Edition description:	1
Pages:	305
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.90(d)

Table of Contents

            Preface
 
Introduction
1          The Media Equation
 
Media and Manners
2          Politeness
3          Interpersonal Distance
4          Flattery
5          Judging Others and Ourselves
 
Media and Personality
6          Personality of Characters
7          Personality of Interfaces
8          Imitating Personality
 
Media Emotion
9          Good versus Bad
10        Negativity
11        Arousal
 
Media and Social Roles
12        Specialists
13        Teammates
14        Gender
15        Voices
16        Source Orientation
 
Media and Form
17        Image Size
18        Fidelity
19        Synchrony
20        Motion
21        Scene Changes
22        Subliminal Images
 
Final Words
23        Conclusions about the Media Equation
 
References           
            Chapter References
            Author Index