EmoChat

Three questions for the project team

What was the particular challenge of the project from a UX point of view?
From a UX perspective, a particular challenge of the EmoChat project was finding typefaces that could convey emotions. To express emotions within the static nature of text, we needed to analyze various typefaces. Initially, we collected 188 free typefaces. We then conducted a survey with 40 typeface experts to match the typefaces to specific emotions based on the survey responses. Additionally, we identified detailed emotional terms from prior research on emotional language. Using this data, we developed a total of 43 emotional typefaces. Usability evaluations showed that users could sense the emotions of their counterparts in the messages, thereby enhancing emotional interaction.

What was your personal highlight in the development process? Was there an aha!-moment, was there a low point?
The most memorable moment during the development of EmoChat was realizing how effectively the AI model could detect users' facial expressions in real-time and transform them into emotional typefaces. Testing and setting the model's frame for natural facial recognition was technically challenging, but it was crucial to achieve this seamlessly from a UX perspective. The 'aha moment' came when users reported experiencing a high level of emotional exchange through EmoChat, comparable to face-to-face conversations, even in a non-face-to-face environment. Particularly gratifying to hear that the tool was especially useful in new relationships where familiarity was low, highlighting EmoChat's significant impact fostering genuine connections.

Where do you see yourself and the project in the next five years?
Through the EmoChat project, I have developed a deep interest in how human emotions can be visually communicated. In future projects, we plan to move beyond the current approach, where users select specific emotional words from the detected primary emotion, and instead develop the ability to recognize and express multiple emotions simultaneously. In the next five years, I envision EmoChat becoming an innovative solution for emotional communication in the digital age, offering a new user experience beyond traditional messaging apps. Additionally, by enabling rich emotional interactions through messaging, EmoChat will contribute to creating a more empathetic society.