2023 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Voice Against Bias: Exploring Voice Assistants as a Method of Countering Implicit Bias
| Project/Area Number |
21K18005
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| Research Institution | Tokyo Institute of Technology |
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Principal Investigator |
シーボーン ケイティー 東京工業大学, 工学院, 准教授 (70831262)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2025-03-31
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| Keywords | HCI / computer voice / implicit bias / ageism / user experience / human-agent interaction / voice perceptions / older adults |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Two new voices were created and evaluated. Results through perception studies and interviews with the voice actors indicated high technical and user experience quality. A new system combining an existing anti-misinformation metacognitive tool developed in the lab for Twitter/X (ELEMI) was created; later, a ChatGPT extension was added. A user study was conducted. However, due to poor user results and the instability of the platform, development on a new system began. Two journal papers were published to top-ranked, international, peer-reviewed venues in human-computer interaction: ACM CSUR and Wiley Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies. A spin-off project on kawaii vocalics was developed and accepted for Grants-in-Aid.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Due to COVID-19 and other intervening factors, we were granted a year extension. This has been invaluable for progress. We are on track to finish the final system, run the final user study, and conduct the field study. However, one student member is refusing to complete the promised work on the measurement part after graduation; the other team members will need to do it, causing serious delays. Still, we have completed all other tasks outlined in the grant proposal.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
We aim to complete the main studies by September 2024. We will begin to transition work to the new, follow-up grant at that time.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Due to the aforementioned delays and unexpected, uncontrollable circumstances (COVID-19 and Twitter/X, notably), we will continue for another year. The remaining funds will be used to (a) pay RAS, (b) recruit and compensate participants, (c) pay for live technology costs (e.g., web server), (d) pay for infrastructure costs (e.g., enabling technologies), and (d) pay for publications and conferences.
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