Effects of face and voice deformation on participant emotion in video-mediated communication

This research investigates the effectiveness of speech audio and facial image deformation tools that make conversation participants appear more positive. By conducting an experiment, we revealed that participants' feelings became more positive when using the deformation tools, and this caused conversations to be more active. It was also found that voice deformation was equally effective compared to a combination of voice and facial image deformations. Moreover, participants were more likely to activate the tool as a listener and with a less positive feeling. Finally, we discuss how these findings can be applied to design a remote communication support system that helps to shift a conversation to a positive mood.