Effects of perceived disability on persuasiveness of computer-synthesized speech.
Are perceptions of computer-synthesized speech altered by the belief that the person using this technology is disabled? In a 2 x 2 factorial design, participants completed an attitude pretest and were randomly assigned to watch an actor deliver a persuasive appeal under 1 of the following 4 conditions: disabled or nondisabled using normal speech and disabled or nondisabled using computer-synthesized speech. Participants then completed a posttest survey and a series of questionnaires assessing perceptions of voice, speaker, and message. Natural speech was perceived more favorably and was more persuasive than computer-synthesized speech. When the speaker was perceived to be speech-disabled, however, this difference diminished. This finding suggests that negatively viewed assistive technologies will be perceived more favorably when used by people with disabilities.
Stern
Steven E
SE
Department of Psychology, University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Pennsylvania 15904, USA. sstern@pitt.edu
Mullennix
John W
JW
Wilson
Stephen J
SJ
D000328:Adult; D001292:Attitude to Computers; D003143:Communication Devices for People with Disabilities; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D013064:Speech Disorders / Q000523:psychology