Describe a virtual agent/assistant (i.e. Anna at Ikea.com, Microsoft "Clippy"). What does it do? What is its appearance like (realistic or cartoon)? How does it communicate with the user (text or speech or both)? Is it helpful to you in completing a task? Is it "persuasive"?
Interactive designers aim at developing interactive systems that bring forth positive responses from the users (Rogers et al., 2007), including responses such as making the users feel motivated to play, learn, be social, and be creative.
Virtual agents are one of the interactive interface elements that interactive designers use to ...
