arXiv subjects

Francesco Chiossi

Publications and source records attributed to Francesco Chiossi.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Typing Behavior in Human-LLM Interaction: Keystroke Dynamics Reveal Cognitive Effort During Prompting

As Large Language Models (LLMs) become increasingly integrated into daily routines, understanding how users interact with these systems is crucial for effective human-AI collaboration. This work investigates keystroke dynamics as a behavioral measure of user mental effort and perceived output usefulness in human-LLM interaction. We conducted a user study (N = 36) to examine how task difficulty (easy vs. hard) and device type (desktop vs. mobile) influence typing behavior and workload (NASA-TLX) during interactions. Our results indicate that hard tasks led to significantly more keystrokes, slower typing, increased pauses, and higher self-reported workload. Device type had weaker effects, with mobile use slightly reducing input length and typing speed. While keystrokes captured differences in cognitive effort, they did not predict perceived LLM output usefulness. These findings highlight the potential of keystroke dynamics as real-time indicators of cognitive effort during LLM prompting, while also showing their limitations in capturing perceived collaboration success.

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arXiv2026

Sensing What Surveys Miss: Understanding and Personalizing Proactive LLM Support by User Modeling

Difficulty spillover and suboptimal help-seeking challenge the sequential, knowledge-intensive nature of digital tasks. In online surveys, tough questions can drain mental energy and hurt performance on later questions, while users often fail to recognize when they need assistance or may satisfy, lacking motivation to seek help. We developed a proactive, adaptive system using electrodermal activity and mouse movement to predict when respondents need support. Personalized classifiers with a rule-based threshold adaptation trigger timely LLM-based clarifications and explanations. In a within-subjects study (N=32), aligned-adaptive timing was compared to misaligned-adaptive and random-adaptive controls. Aligned-adaptive assistance improved response accuracy by 21%, reduced false negative rates from 50.9% to 22.9%, and improved perceived efficiency, dependability, and benevolence. Properly timed interventions prevent cascades of degraded responses, showing that aligning support with cognitive states improves both the outcomes and the user experience. This enables more effective, personalized LLM-assisted support in survey-based research.

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arXiv2026

Anticipation Before Action: EEG-Based Implicit Intent Detection for Adaptive Gaze Interaction in Mixed Reality

Mixed Reality (MR) interfaces increasingly rely on gaze for interaction , yet distinguishing visual attention from intentional action remains difficult, leading to the Midas Touch problem. Existing solutions require explicit confirmations, while brain-computer interfaces may provide an implicit marker of intention using Stimulus-Preceding Negativity (SPN). We investigated how Intention (Select vs. Observe) and Feedback (With vs. Without) modulate SPN during gaze-based MR interactions. During realistic selection tasks, we acquired EEG and eye-tracking data from 28 participants. SPN was robustly elicited and sensitive to both factors: observation without feedback produced the strongest amplitudes, while intention to select and expectation of feedback reduced activity, suggesting SPN reflects anticipatory uncertainty rather than motor preparation. Complementary decoding with deep learning models achieved reliable person-dependent classification of user intention, with accuracies ranging from 75% to 97% across participants. These findings identify SPN as an implicit marker for building intention-aware MR interfaces that mitigate the Midas Touch.

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arXiv2026

Physiological and Behavioral Modeling of Stress and Cognitive Load in Web-Based Question Answering

Time pressure and question difficulty can trigger stress and cognitive overload in web-based surveys, compromising data quality and user experience. Most stress detection methods are based on low-resolution self-reports, which are poorly suited for capturing fast, moment-to-moment changes during short online tasks. Addressing this gap, we conducted a 2x2 within-subjects study (N = 29), manipulating question difficulty and time pressure in a web-based multiple-choice task. Participants completed general knowledge and cognitive questions while we collected multimodal data: mouse dynamics, eye tracking, electrocardiogram, and electrodermal activity. Using condition-based and self-reported labels, we used statistical and machine learning models to model stress and question difficulty. Our results show distinct physiological and behavioral patterns within very short timeframes. This work demonstrates the feasibility of rapidly detecting cognitive-affective states in digital environments, paving the way for more adaptive, ethical, and user-aware survey interfaces.

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arXiv2026

The CHI26 Workshop on the Future of Cognitive Personal Informatics

Research on Cognitive Personal Informatics (CPI) is steadily growing as new wearable cognitive tracking technologies emerge on the consumer market, claiming to measure stress, focus, and other cognitive factors. At the same time, with generative AI offering new ways to analyse, visualize, and interpret cognitive data, we hypothesize that cognitive tracking will soon become as simple as measuring your heart rate during a run. Yet, cognitive data remains inherently more complex, context-dependent, and less well understood than physical activity data. This workshop brings together HCI experts to discuss critical questions, including: How can complex cognitive data be translated into meaningful metrics? How can AI support users' data sensemaking without over-simplifying cognitive insights? How can we design inclusive CPI technologies that consider inter-personal variance and neurodiversity? We will map

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arXiv2026

Escaping the Filter Bubble: Evaluating Electroencephalographic Theta Band Synchronization as Indicator for Selective Exposure in Online News Reading

Selective exposure to online news occurs when users favor information that confirms their beliefs, creating filter bubbles and limiting diverse perspectives. Interactive systems can counter this by recommending different perspectives, but to achieve this, they need a real-time metric for selective exposure. We present an experiment where we evaluate Electroencephalography (EEG) and eye tracking as indicators for selective exposure by using eye tracking to recognize which textual parts participants read and using EEG to quantify the magnitude of selective exposure. Participants read online news while we collected EEG and eye movements with their agreement towards the news. We show that the agreement with news correlates positively with the theta band power in the parietal area. Our results indicate that future interactive systems can sense selective exposure using EEG and eye tracking to propose a more balanced information diet. This work presents an integrated experimental setup that identifies selective exposure using gaze and EEG-based metrics.

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arXiv2025

Designing Intent Communication for Agent-Human Collaboration

As autonomous agents, from self-driving cars to virtual assistants, become increasingly present in everyday life, safe and effective collaboration depends on human understanding of agents' intentions. Current intent communication approaches are often rigid, agent-specific, and narrowly scoped, limiting their adaptability across tasks, environments, and user preferences. A key gap remains: existing models of what to communicate are rarely linked to systematic choices of how and when to communicate, preventing the development of generalizable, multi-modal strategies. In this paper, we introduce a multidimensional design space for intent communication structured along three dimensions: Transparency (what is communicated), Abstraction (when), and Modality (how). We apply this design space to three distinct human-agent collaboration scenarios: (a) bystander interaction, (b) cooperative tasks, and (c) shared control, demonstrating its capacity to generate adaptable, scalable, and cross-domain communication strategies. By bridging the gap between intent content and communication implementation, our design space provides a foundation for designing safer, more intuitive, and more transferable agent-human interactions.

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arXiv2025

At the Speed of the Heart: Evaluating Physiologically-Adaptive Visualizations for Supporting Engagement in Biking Exergaming in Virtual Reality

Many exergames face challenges in keeping users within safe and effective intensity levels during exercise. Meanwhile, although wearable devices continuously collect physiological data, this information is seldom leveraged for real-time adaptation or to encourage user reflection. We designed and evaluated a VR cycling simulator that dynamically adapts based on users' heart rate zones. First, we conducted a user study (N=50) comparing eight visualization designs to enhance engagement and exertion control, finding that gamified elements like non-player characters (NPCs) were promising for feedback delivery. Based on these findings, we implemented a physiology-adaptive exergame that adjusts visual feedback to keep users within their target heart rate zones. A lab study (N=18) showed that our system has potential to help users maintain their target heart rate zones. Subjective ratings of exertion, enjoyment, and motivation remained largely unchanged between conditions. Our findings suggest that real-time physiological adaptation through NPC visualizations can improve workout regulation in exergaming.

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arXiv2025

Designing Intent: A Multimodal Framework for Human-Robot Cooperation in Industrial Workspaces

As robots enter collaborative workspaces, ensuring mutual understanding between human workers and robotic systems becomes a prerequisite for trust, safety, and efficiency. In this position paper, we draw on the cooperation scenario of the AIMotive project in which a human and a cobot jointly perform assembly tasks to argue for a structured approach to intent communication. Building on the Situation Awareness-based Agent Transparency (SAT) framework and the notion of task abstraction levels, we propose a multidimensional design space that maps intent content (SAT1, SAT3), planning horizon (operational to strategic), and modality (visual, auditory, haptic). We illustrate how this space can guide the design of multimodal communication strategies tailored to dynamic collaborative work contexts. With this paper, we lay the conceptual foundation for a future design toolkit aimed at supporting transparent human-robot interaction in the workplace. We highlight key open questions and design challenges, and propose a shared agenda for multimodal, adaptive, and trustworthy robotic collaboration in hybrid work environments.

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arXiv2025

A Vision for AI-Driven Adaptation of Dynamic AR Content to Users and Environments

Augmented Reality (AR) is transforming the way we interact with virtual information in the physical world. By overlaying digital content in real-world environments, AR enables new forms of immersive and engaging experiences. However, existing AR systems often struggle to effectively manage the many interactive possibilities that AR presents. This vision paper speculates on AI-driven approaches for adaptive AR content placement, dynamically adjusting to user movement and environmental changes. By leveraging machine learning methods, such a system would intelligently manage content distribution between AR projections integrated into the external environment and fixed static content, enabling seamless UI layout and potentially reducing users' cognitive load. By exploring the possibilities of AI-driven dynamic AR content placement, we aim to envision new opportunities for innovation and improvement in various industries, from urban navigation and workplace productivity to immersive learning and beyond. This paper outlines a vision for the development of more intuitive, engaging, and effective AI-powered AR experiences.

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arXiv2025

Evaluating Eye Tracking and Electroencephalography as Indicator for Selective Exposure During Online News Reading

Selective exposure to online news consumption reinforces filter bubbles, restricting access to diverse viewpoints. Interactive systems can counteract this bias by suggesting alternative perspectives, but they require real-time indicators to identify selective exposure. This workshop paper proposes the integration of physiological sensing, including Electroencephalography (EEG) and eye tracking, to measure selective exposure. We propose methods for examining news agreement and its relationship to theta band power in the parietal region, indicating a potential link between cortical activity and selective exposure. Our vision is interactive systems that detect selective exposure and provide alternative views in real time. We suggest that future news interfaces incorporate physiological signals to promote more balanced information consumption. This work joins the discussion on AI-enhanced methodology for bias detection.

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arXiv2025

AR You on Track? Investigating Effects of Augmented Reality Anchoring on Dual-Task Performance While Walking

With the increasing spread of AR head-mounted displays suitable for everyday use, interaction with information becomes ubiquitous, even while walking. However, this requires constant shifts of our attention between walking and interacting with virtual information to fulfill both tasks adequately. Accordingly, we as a community need a thorough understanding of the mutual influences of walking and interacting with digital information to design safe yet effective interactions. Thus, we systematically investigate the effects of different AR anchors (hand, head, torso) and task difficulties on user experience and performance. We engage participants (n=26) in a dual-task paradigm involving a visual working memory task while walking. We assess the impact of dual-tasking on both virtual and walking performance, and subjective evaluations of mental and physical load. Our results show that head-anchored AR content least affected walking while allowing for fast and accurate virtual task interaction, while hand-anchored content increased reaction times and workload.

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arXiv2024

The Second Joint Workshop on Cross Reality

The 2nd Joint Workshop on Cross Reality (JWCR'24), organized as part of ISMAR 2024, seeks to explore the burgeoning field of Cross Reality (CR), which encompasses the seamless integration and transition between various points on the reality-virtuality continuum (RVC) such as Virtual Reality (VR), Augmented Virtuality (AV), and Augmented Reality (AR). This hybrid workshop aims to build upon the foundation laid by the inaugural JWCR at ISMAR 2023, which successfully unified diverse CR research communities. The workshop will address key themes including CR visualization, interaction, user behavior, design, development, engineering, and collaboration. CR Visualization focuses on creating and displaying spatial data across the RVC, enabling users to navigate and interpret information fluidly. CR Interaction delves into natural user engagements using gestures, voice commands, and other advanced techniques to enhance immersion. The study of CR User Behavior and Experience investigates how users perceive and interact within these hybrid environments. Furthermore, CR Design and Development emphasizes creating effective CR applications using innovative processes and tools, while CR Collaboration examines methods for fostering teamwork in mixed reality settings.

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arXiv2024

Mind the Visual Discomfort: Assessing Event-Related Potentials as Indicators for Visual Strain in Head-Mounted Displays

When using Head-Mounted Displays (HMDs), users may not always notice or report visual discomfort by blurred vision through unadjusted lenses, motion sickness, and increased eye strain. Current measures for visual discomfort rely on users' self-reports those susceptible to subjective differences and lack of real-time insights. In this work, we investigate if Electroencephalography (EEG) can objectively measure visual discomfort by sensing Event-Related Potentials (ERPs). In a user study (N=20), we compare four different levels of Gaussian blur in a user study while measuring ERPs at occipito-parietal EEG electrodes. The findings reveal that specific ERP components (i.e., P1, N2, and P3) discriminated discomfort-related visual stimuli and indexed increased load on visual processing and fatigue. We conclude that time-locked brain activity can be used to evaluate visual discomfort and propose EEG-based automatic discomfort detection and prevention tools.

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arXiv2023

PhysioCHI: Towards Best Practices for Integrating Physiological Signals in HCI

Recently, we saw a trend toward using physiological signals in interactive systems. These signals, offering deep insights into users' internal states and health, herald a new era for HCI. However, as this is an interdisciplinary approach, many challenges arise for HCI researchers, such as merging diverse disciplines, from understanding physiological functions to design expertise. Also, isolated research endeavors limit the scope and reach of findings. This workshop aims to bridge these gaps, fostering cross-disciplinary discussions on usability, open science, and ethics tied to physiological data in HCI. In this workshop, we will discuss best practices for embedding physiological signals in interactive systems. Through collective efforts, we seek to craft a guiding document for best practices in physiological HCI research, ensuring that it remains grounded in shared principles and methodologies as the field advances.

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arXiv2023

Designing and Evaluating an Adaptive Virtual Reality System using EEG Frequencies to Balance Internal and External Attention States

Virtual reality finds various applications in productivity, entertainment, and training scenarios requiring working memory and attentional resources. Working memory relies on prioritizing relevant information and suppressing irrelevant information through internal attention, which is fundamental for successful task performance and training. Today, virtual reality systems do not account for the impact of working memory loads resulting in over or under-stimulation. In this work, we designed an adaptive system based on EEG correlates of external and internal attention to support working memory task performance. Here, participants engaged in a visual working memory N-Back task, and we adapted the visual complexity of distracting surrounding elements. Our study first demonstrated the feasibility of EEG frontal theta and parietal alpha frequency bands for dynamic visual complexity adjustments. Second, our adaptive system showed improved task performance and diminished perceived workload compared to a reverse adaptation. Our results show the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive system, allowing for the optimization of distracting elements in high-demanding conditions. Adaptive systems based on alpha and theta frequency bands allow for the regulation of attentional and executive resources to keep users engaged in a task without resulting in cognitive overload.

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arXiv2023

How Can Mixed Reality Benefit From Physiologically-Adaptive Systems? Challenges and Opportunities for Human Factors Applications

Mixed Reality (MR) allows users to interact with digital objects in a physical environment, but several limitations have hampered widespread adoption. Physiologically adaptive systems detecting user's states can drive interaction and address these limitations. Here, we highlight potential usability and interaction limitations in MR and how physiologically adaptive systems can benefit MR experiences and applications. We specifically address potential applications for human factors and operational settings such as healthcare, education, and entertainment. We further discuss benefits and applications in light of ethical and privacy concerns. The use of physiologically adaptive systems in MR has the potential to revolutionize human-computer interactions and provide users with a more personalized and engaging experience.

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arXiv2023

Short-Form Videos Degrade Our Capacity to Retain Intentions: Effect of Context Switching On Prospective Memory

Social media platforms use short, highly engaging videos to catch users' attention. While the short-form video feeds popularized by TikTok are rapidly spreading to other platforms, we do not yet understand their impact on cognitive functions. We conducted a between-subjects experiment (N=60) investigating the impact of engaging with TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube while performing a Prospective Memory task (i.e., executing a previously planned action). The study required participants to remember intentions over interruptions. We found that the TikTok condition significantly degraded the users' performance in this task. As none of the other conditions (Twitter, YouTube, no activity) had a similar effect, our results indicate that the combination of short videos and rapid context-switching impairs intention recall and execution. We contribute a quantified understanding of the effect of social media feed format on Prospective Memory and outline consequences for media technology designers to not harm the users' memory and wellbeing.

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