Reflection of stress in working with computers: A case study

Lack of emotional support is one of the mostly highlighted complaints made by the individuals in current social context. Though the technology has been very supportive in building and maintaining relationships among individuals, it is still very seldom used to enhance the ability of recognizing emotions: emotional intelligence. As the initial step in developing a model that non-intrusively recognizes users´ emotions, and ascertain whether they need external help in managing the feelings better, it has been studied how individuals assess their feelings and mental status. Sri Lankan state universities absorb the `academic´ spirit from the youth into the undergraduate programmes. They are expected to excel in academic and social careers by enhancing skills in both the arenas. Being prominent in the society as an `intelligent community´, the undergraduates seize a responsibility to be aware of and able to manage their feelings. Therefore, it was decided to carry out the study by keeping the undergraduates of the state universities as the focal. The study further explored how the undergraduates cope up with the stress, and whether there is a noticeable difference in the way they interact with the computer when under stress. This paper presents the findings of the preliminary survey carried out as a part of the broader research undertaken to explore how technology can be used to enhance the emotional intelligence of individuals. It aims to support them to recognize how they feel, manage the feelings better, and to encourage them to seek help if they run a risk of getting into a mental health problem.