A persuasive interactive mannequin for shop windows

Abstract

In this paper, we present an interactive mannequin for persuading bypassing customers to extend the perceived time they stay in front of a shop window. The mannequin was designed and prototyped to be seamlessly integrated into a real shop window, constituting an ambient persuasion interface. The design concept of our virtual mannequin is based on actual "real world" mannequins. Based on implicit input from the customers, the mannequin reacts on their presence by looking into their direction. We implemented a prototype of the persuasive interactive mannequin (PIM) as a 3D model, visualized on a large LCD screen and deployed it in a retail store within a shopping mall. The results from a three days field study of this deployment are presented and discussed. The study results give insights about the persuasive effect of the mannequin as well as implications for the user centered design of interactive agents in the context of shopping.

Engaging consumer through the storefront: Evidences from integrating interactive technologies

“…Both male and female respondents agreed on the same factors influencing their entry decisions, and had a similar reaction towards the introduction of interactive elements directly on the storefront. Summarizing, past studies have argued that innovative technologies are becoming prevalent in the actual retail settings (Kourouthanassis et al, 2007;Papagiannidis et al, 2013;Rese et al, 2014;Demirkan and Spohrer, 2014;Pantano and Viassone, 2015), while proposing only few qualitative testing of storefronts enriched with specific technologies such as virtual mannequins or glasses equipped with haptic sensors (Paradiso et al, 2002;Paradiso and Leo, 2005;Reitberger et al, 2009;Meschtscherjakov et al, 2009). Our research figured out the possible consequences of an interactive technology introduction already in the storefront, independently of the specific system.…”

“…More recently, some preliminary studies highlighted the extent to which the higher innovative storefront increases the higher positive store image evaluation (Cornelius et al, 2010), by exploiting the innovativeness offered by virtual elements such as digital signage and mannequins (Bauer et al, 2011;Campos et al, 2012;Reitberger et al, 2009). In fact, interactive and touch screen displays might increasingly replace the traditional static signage.…”

Mindless computing

“…The System 1 technologies found in the review were designed to influence different kinds of behavior, including: decrease energy consumption [24][39][38], practice physical activities [55], improve behavior during social interactions [52][3], keep proper posture while sitting [46], look at a shop window [53], eat healthy snacks [34], drink water [2], and correct bad posture while playing violin [61]. …”

“…8 out of the 11 papers found use this approach [24][39][38][3][55][46][53][2]. All technologies described in these papers use visual cues in the environment to influence people’s behavior.…”

12 Way Mirror

“…Of relevance to the current research, attracting people's attention in the shopping context is more difficult as customers are exposed to competing messages designed to grab their attention and ideally affect their shopping decisions. In this context, an interactive mannequin (PIM) reacts to the presence of a user by changing its body posture is documented by Reitberger et al [5]. In addition, Muller et al [3], designed a shop-window interactive installation that communicates its interactivity by using visual feedback based on the movements of passers-by.…”