Can We Talk? – The Impact of Conversational Interfaces on Human Autonomy Teaming Perception, Performance and Situation Awareness

Abstract

Human Autonomy Teaming (HAT) research has established that communication provides the key to building a teaming relationship between humans and autonomous agents (synthetic teammates). We hypothesised that a greater semblance of teaming could be achieved through more natural forms of audio-voice communication. In this study we evaluated the impact that providing a conversational interface (a voice) to the synthetic teammate had on the performance, SA and perception of teaming of the human teammate. Twenty-four participants conducted experimental trials on a computer-based task adapted from a LOA test method developed by Endsley and Kaber [8]. The results show that voice communication from the synthetic teammate can have a positive effect on human performance and perception of teaming; however, the pattern of improvement varied between different team structures.