On the Influence of Virtual Characters' Facial Features on Young Adult User Perception: A Quantitative Study

Facial features significantly influence peoples' perception, with different features and expressions drawing attention depending on context. Previous research emphasizes the importance of the age of the target group since age-related differences in recognizing emotions have been observed between younger and older adults. As virtual characters become more integrated into daily life, it is crucial to understand their impact on viewers' perceptions of likeability, trustworthiness, and naturalness. This study investigated the impact of virtual characters' facial features and specific parameters on young user perception. Twelve characters were rated by 300 respondents using survey methods and eyetracking technology. Results revealed that the eyes were the primary focus point, attracting the most attention and observation time, followed by the forehead and nose. Further statistical analysis focused on three critical areas of interest: eyes, forehead, and nose. Two primary measures - total viewing time and time to first view - were analyzed using three statistical tests: a two-way between-groups ANOVA, a one-way between-groups ANOVA, and a one-way repeated measures ANOVA. Findings emphasize the importance of eyes, forehead, and nose in shaping perception, emphasizing eyes as a crucial factor for designing appealing and realistic virtual characters, particularly for younger users as the target audience.