Shopping Decisions Made in a Virtual World: Defining a State-Based Model of Collaborative and Conversational User-Recommender Interactions

Abstract

A 3D Virtual World facilitates users' interaction as they feel immersed and engaged in a shared virtual space. This type of interface may be specially useful when consumers employ home electronics for accessing online personalized services. In a previous research we focused on a Collaborative Conversational Recommender framework, where a synchronous and online 3D interface for multiple consumers integrates with a recommender. In this paper we go further and define a state-based model of user-recommender interaction that allows users move from different states of interaction (i.e., individual and collaborative) among users. Then, it is evaluated with users and compared with an individual approach. Our results demonstrate that the collaborative capacities proposed in the framework improves user experience and significantly increases the performance of the recommendation process, i.e users take less time in achieving the desired service.