Psychophysiological indicators of the impact of media quality on users

ABSTRACT

The number of networked multimedia applications is increasing, therefore users' quality requirements need to be clearly specified. At present, subjective assessment is used to do this, however it has drawbacks when used in isolation. Therefore, this research approach is utilising physiological indicators of stress to measure the impact of media quality on users - this is defined as user cost. Four studies using this technique have shown that physiological responses to audio and video degradations can be detected and that they do not always correlate with subjective results. Subsequently, a three-tier approach to multimedia quality evaluation is proposed, which incorporates task performance, user satisfaction and user cost.

REFERENCES

• 1: Anne H. Anderson , Lucy Smallwood , Rory MacDonald , Jim Mullin , AnneMarie Fleming, Video data and video links in mediated communication: what do users value?, International Journal of Human-Computer Studies, v.52 n.1, p.165-187, Jan. 2000 [doi>10.1006/ijhc.1999.0335]
• 2: SmartCar: Detecting Driver Stress, Proceedings of the International Conference on Pattern Recognition, p.4218, September 03-08, 2000
• 3: Seyle, H. (1956) The Stress of Life. McGraw-Hill.
• 4: Wilson, G. M. & Sasse, M. A. (2000) Do Users Always Know What's Good for Them? Utilising Physiological Responses to Assess Media Quality. In S. McDonald, Y. Waern & G. Cockton (eds.), Proceedings of HCI 2000: People and Computer XIV - Usability or Else!, pp. 327-339, 5th-8th September 2000, Sunderland, UK.
• 5: Wilson, G. M. & Sasse, M. A. (2000) Investigating the impact of audio degradations on users: Subjective vs. objective assessment methods. To appear in Proceedings of OZCHI 2000, 4th-8th December, Sydney, Australia.

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.1 MODELS AND PRINCIPLES
      H.1.2 User/Machine Systems
          Subjects: Human factors

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)
      H.5.2 User Interfaces (D.2.2, H.1.2, I.3.6)
          Subjects: Evaluation/methodology
      H.5.5 Sound and Music Computing
          Subjects: Systems

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Human Factors

Keywords:
audio/video degradations, evaluation methods, physiological measurements, user cost, videoconferencing