Computer-mediated Empathy

Abstract: While novel social networks and emerging technologies help us transcend the spatial and temporal constraints inherent to in-person communication, the trade-off is a loss of natural expressivity. While empathetic interaction is already challenging in in-person communication, computer-mediated communication makes such empathetically rich communication even more difficult. Are technology and intelligent systems opportunities or threats to more empathic interpersonal communication? Realizing empathy is suggested not only as a way to communicate with others but also to design products for users and facilitate creativity. In this position paper, I suggest a framework to breakdown empathy, introduce each element, and show how computing, technologies, and algorithms can support (or hinder) certain elements of the empathy framework.