Abstract

The field of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) has traditionally focused on the usability of a system, but as increasing numbers of interactive products become entwined in our daily lives, so does the opportunity to understand user impacts that reach beyond usability. In particular, interaction design, a subdomain of HCI, expands the focus of HCI by looking at the aesthetic impacts a system may have on user emotions. Curiosity is one such emotion that tends to induce information-seeking and motivational behaviors. An experimental study was undertaken to determine whether an interactive, front-end graphic that incorporated curiosity principles in its design would sufficiently pique a participating university faculty’s curiosity to interact with the graphic, and thereafter, with an existing platform named George that was developed to motivate faculty to engage in collaborative behavior. George includes capabilities for creating and storing individual faculty trading cards that include the faculty’s photograph, personal interests, research interests, and publication domains. The experimental graphic provided interactive capabilities to incrementally reveal segments of the photograph and to acquire information about the faculty’s research profile. The number of a study participant’s interactions with the graphic was limited by software. The data collected included the location and frequency of interactions with the graphic, and whether participants ultimately accessed the George platform. Statistically significant evidence demonstrated that the curiosity-provoking principles motivated interaction with the graphic, and that participants were also motivated to access George.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

User interfaces (Computer systems)--Design; Computer graphics--Design; Curiosity

Publication Date

8-2018

Document Type

Thesis

Student Type

Graduate

Degree Name

Human-Computer Interaction (MS)

Department, Program, or Center

Information Sciences and Technologies (GCCIS)

Advisor

Jeff A. Lasky

Advisor/Committee Member

Bryan French

Advisor/Committee Member

Deborah Gears

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

Plan Codes

HUMCOMP-MS

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