Tools over solutions? Comments on Interacting with Computers special issue on affective computing

Abstract The emotional system is highly sensitive to individual, cultural and contextual differences. This creates difficulties in studying and designing affect in HCI. It is hard to see how grand visions of affective HCI survive the harsh complexity and intricacy of human emotions. Perhaps a more realistic approach to accommodating users' affective needs is to design interactive technologies that would help users help themselves. Users can stay in full control, being allowed to personalize and tailor applications in a way that satisfies, mitigates, or enhances various emotional states or needs.

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