Does non-verbal behavior of an embodied agent matter?

This paper reflects on some of our research on embodied agents from the viewpoint of non-verbal behavior. In previous studies we aimed to investigate the utility of embodied interface agent by applying novel evaluation methods. One study tracks bio-signals in order to evaluate the impact of affective agent behavior on the stress level of users. In another study, users´ eye movements were recorded to demonstrate the benefit of an embodied interface agent as a navigational guide. Since the encouraging results of these two studies mostly relied on the use of non-verbal agent behaviors, including non-verbal means to express affect and empathy as well as deictic gestures, we want to answer the question posed in the title of the current paper in the affirmative: non-verbal agent behavior matters for effective human-computer interaction.