Voices of the Internet of Things: An Exploration of Multiple Voice Effects in Smart Homes

Abstract

Based on the Computers Are Social Actors (CASA) paradigm, this study investigates an effect of media specialization by number of voice in smart-home environment where many smart devices are controlled by voice user interface (VUI). Result from a between-subjects experiment (N = 50) examines that there are interaction effects between users personality and number of voice on social attraction and trust toward media technology which are critical in human-computer interactions. In this experiment, extrovert users feel a stronger feeling of social attraction and trust when there is one identical voice from several smart devices. On the other hand, introvert users feel a stronger feeling of social attraction and trust when different smart devices make respective voices. These results provide a strong evidence for human's automatic social response to smart devices which have a voice, a strong anthropomorphic cue. Finally, we discuss on implications for future VUI setting, according to user's personality.