How Virtual Teammate Support Types Affect Stress

In this paper we design and implement an artificial task-based scenario that seeks to induce loneliness and acute stress. We explore how the presence of a virtual teammate called Mary and the differing types of support that she provides affects users stress during a task. We investigate how empathic support, task support and the combination of task and empathic support affect stress. Stress is measured using both physiological sensors (skin conductance and heart rate) and self-reporting questionnaires. The results obtained offer insight into the best type of support to give individuals taking part in critical situations, such as in our chosen domain of pre-hospital care. This work lays down the foundations for future work in the development of an intelligent algorithm for a virtual teammate which can provide benefits to both casualty and carer welfare.