Affect and Emotion

In this chapter, we introduce the concepts of affect in general and more closely of emotion in the context of user interfaces and human–computer interaction (HCI). In an introduction, we shall deal with HCI design (such as emotional design and cuteness engineering) and the impact of emotions in user experience in general. Then, we will give a definition and outline modelling concepts of affect and emotion from a psychological perspective as well as rooting it in engineering as relevant to HCI. Next, we will elaborate on how these influence human intentions, behaviours, and decision-making. We will then touch upon measuring affect and emotion before moving to Affective Computing – the home discipline to affect, emotion, and computing. There, we will deal with not only automatic recognition and synthesis but also applications in HCI. Concluding on affective computing, we will deal with current challenges and ways out before summarising the content in a nutshell. Affect and emotion are omnipresent in our daily interactions among humans – they will soon be in our HCI.