Indirect Control of User's E-learning Motivation by Controlling Activity Ratio of Multiple Agents

Abstract

In this research, we propose a system that shows a group of multiple agents as other learners to the e-leaning user. For continuous learning in e-learning, promoting the user's motivation for learning and appropriate breaks are considered to improve the user's work efficiency. The proposed system controls the proportion of the agents' behaviors in their group by allocating the state of study--either studying or taking a break--for each agent in order to indirectly indicate concentration or appropriate breaks. Consequently, the system offers multiple actions, but the user has room to make the choice regarding the action. Depending on the concentration degree and the duration of study of the user, the necessity of a break is calculated. That is used to control the ratio of agents who have a break and to avoid the forced feeling resulting from only one action being presented by a single agent. In this paper, we examined how the ratio of behavior in the agent group influences the user. As a result, a greater ratio of studying to resting in the group influenced the participants' behaviors.