Designing interfaces to maximize the quality of collaborative work

Technological advances provide designers with tools to develop interfaces with anthropomorphic qualities. However, it is not known how human participants accommodate such design features in their interactions with computers, nor do we know if these features facilitate or hinder information exchange and task performance. Study 1 examined the properties of mediation, contingency, and modality richness, whereas study 2 examined the property of mediation. Results show that the some design features are better than others given the goal of the encounter (e.g., passive involvement vs. relation building). Discussion focuses on the relation between user perceptions, design features, and task outcomes.