A REVIEW ON A COMPUTATIONAL MODEL OF SHYNESS FOR ARTIFICIAL AGENTS IN THE MALAYSIAN LEARNING DOMAIN

Abstract

Shyness is a difficulty experienced by many children in our country. Although it is a norm that Asians exhibit more colourings of shyness (e.g. timidity, passiveness, non-confrontational); studies conducted within the learning domain verifies that this personality trait is being acknowledged as a negative trait, especially among young learners (children) which is likely to affect their potential and performance in the academic platform. Teachers and peers may falsely belief that these students are less capable and less intelligent which may develop a poor perception towards them. However, these shy students find computer-mediated communication to be easier means of interaction than face-to-face contact with teachers. In-line with the Malaysian Education Blueprint (2015-2025) by the Malaysian Ministry of Education (MOE), development and use of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) (e.g. e-learning, educational games and other interactive learning platforms through computer interfaces) are very much encouraged. Hence, implementing an interactive artificial tutor (fit with a shyness model) to automatically adapt and interact to the user’s emotional state could help in overcoming shyness, at the same time encourage these shy learners to confidently communicate and exhibit their capabilities. This research intends to review the background study on the usefulness of a shyness computational model which will be integrated with an interactive synthetic tutor. The aim of this study is to identify and capture the display features of colourings of shyness (e.g. timidity, passiveness, non-confrontational) through facial features (e.g. smiles, pouting) and vocal behaviours (silences, frequent pauses,filler words and turn-taking patterns) projected by shy young Malaysian learners (children aged between 9-11 years). These markers will be collected and constructed into a shyness model suitable for interactive synthetic agents used in the learning domain for teaching and training young learners in a typical Malaysian academic setting.