Investigating Intelligent Agents in a 3D Virtual World

Web 3.0 involves “intelligent” web applications that utilize natural language processing, machine-based learning and reasoning, and intelligent techniques to analyze and understand user behavior. In this research, we empirically assess a specific form of Web 3.0 application in the form of intelligent agents that offer assistance to users in the virtual world. Using media naturalness theory, we hypothesize that the use of intelligent agents in the virtual world can enhance user experience by offering a more natural way of communication and assistance to users. We are interested to test if media naturalness theory holds in the context of intelligent agents that function as nonplayer characters in the virtual world. Through this research, we will not only assess the efficacy of a Web 3.0 application but also offer guidelines for creating intelligent agents in the virtual world.

[1]  Jang-Sun Hwang,et al.  Measures of Perceived Interactivity: An Exploration of the Role of Direction of Communication, User Control, and Time in Shaping Perceptions of Interactivity , 2002 .

[2]  Ned Kock,et al.  The Psychobiological Model: Towards a New Theory of Computer-Mediated Communication Based on Darwinian Evolution , 2004, Organ. Sci..

[3]  J. Brown,et al.  Why Virtual Worlds Can Matter , 2008 .

[4]  M. Csíkszentmihályi.  Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience , 1990 .

[5]  Gordon B. Davis,et al.  An Investigation of Media Selection Among Directors and Managers: From "Self" to "Other" Orientation , 1998, MIS Q..

[6]  F. Nah,et al.  Enhancing%' or paper_id like 'brand equity through flow and telepresence: a comparison of 2D and 3D virtual worlds , 2011 .

[7]  M. Csíkszentmihályi,et al.  Optimal experience: Psychological studies of flow in consciousness. , 1988 .

[8]  M. Lipkin,et al.  A randomized trial of teaching clinical skills using virtual and live standardized patients , 2006, Journal of General Internal Medicine.

[9]  Paige Baltzan,et al.  Business Driven Technology , 2005 .

[10]  L. Beck,et al.  Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly. (1990). Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience , 1992 .

[11]  Carrie Heater,et al.  Being There: The Subjective Experience of Presence , 1992, Presence: Teleoperators & Virtual Environments.

[12]  Themis Panayiotopoulos,et al.  INTELLIGENT VIRTUAL AGENTS AND THE WEB , 2004 .

[13]  B DavisGordon,et al.  An investigation of media selection among directors and managers , 1998 .

[14]  Sung-Byung Yang,et al.  An Odyssey into Virtual Worlds: Exploring the Impacts of Technological and Spatial Environments , 2011, MIS Q..

[15]  Albert A. Rizzo,et al.  Evaluation of Justina: A Virtual Patient with PTSD , 2008, IVA.

[16]  Simeon J. Simoff,et al.  Virtual Agents and 3D Virtual Worlds for Preserving and Simulating Cultures , 2009, IVA.

[17]  John H. Miller,et al.  Complex adaptive systems - an introduction to computational models of social life , 2009, Princeton studies in complexity.

[18]  Mark O. Riedl,et al.  Believable Agents and Intelligent Scenario Direction for Social and Cultural Leadership Training , 2006 .

[19]  N. Kock,et al.  Media richness or media naturalness? The evolution of our biological communication apparatus and its influence on our behavior toward E-communication tools , 2005, IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication.

[20]  Fiona Fui-Hoon Nah,et al.  Enhancing Brand Equity Through Flow and Telepresence: A Comparison of 2D and 3D Virtual Worlds , 2011, MIS Q..

[21]  Eleni Stroulia,et al.  Virtual worlds - past, present, and future: New directions in social computing , 2009, Decis. Support Syst..

[22]  Matthew Lombard,et al.  At the Heart of It All: The Concept of Presence , 2006 .

[23]  Yuping Liu,et al.  Developing a scale to measure the interactivity of websites , 2003, Journal of Advertising Research.

[24]  Randall W. Hill,et al.  Towards Virtual Humans , 2004, AAAI Technical Report.

[25]  Daniel R. Dolk,et al.  Design Principles for Virtual Worlds , 2011, MIS Q..

[26]  Stephen Grossberg,et al.  Intelligence Through Interaction: Towards a Unified Theory for Learning , 2007, ISNN.

[27]  Woodrow Barfield,et al.  The effect of update rate on the sense of presence within virtual environments , 1995, Virtual Reality.

[28]  Timothy Bickmore,et al.  Taking the time to care: empowering low health literacy hospital patients with virtual nurse agents , 2009, CHI.

[29]  Mitsuru Ishizuka,et al.  Social role awareness in animated agents , 2001, AGENTS '01.

[30]  Chuan-Hoo Tan,et al.  Dr. Jekyll vis-à-vis Mr. Hyde: Personality variation between virtual and real worlds , 2011, Inf. Manag..

[31]  Frank Biocca,et al.  The Effect of the Agency and Anthropomorphism on Users' Sense of Telepresence, Copresence, and Social Presence in Virtual Environments , 2003, Presence: Teleoperators & Virtual Environments.

[32]  Blake Ives,et al.  Web-based Virtual Learning Environments: a Research Framework and a Preliminary Assessment of Effectiveness in Basic It Skills Training Author(s): Piccoli Et Al./web-based Virtual Learning Environments Web-based Virtual Learning Environments: a Research Framework and a Preliminary Assessment of Effe , 2022 .