Exploring the possibilities for inclusive debate with avatar and voice changing technology

A pilot study in Japan

Bibliographic Data

ID22233718
AuthorsKota Jodoi (0000-0003-2997-5656, Kumamoto University, corresponding author), Nobu Takenaka (0000-0002-9117-5513, Global Strategy Group), Shiina Nakagawa (0000-0002-1178-5726, Kyushu University), Narahiko Inoue (0000-0001-6496-3488, Kyushu University)
Year2025
Volume13
Issue1
Publication date2025-12-20
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHumanities and Social Sciences Communications (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2662-9992 • E-ISSN: 2662-9992
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1057/s41599-025-06399-y
OpenAlexW4417522498
LanguageEN
References cited21

This study examines the use of avatar and voice-changing technology to facilitate debate for individuals with anxiety before a large audience. By anonymizing participants’ identities, these technologies aim to reduce the barriers associated with public speaking. Conducted in Japan, the research involved semi-structured interviews with four experienced debaters, exploring the technologies’ impacts on debate participation and judging fairness. Findings suggest that while such technologies enable broader participation and reduce identity-based biases, they may also impact communication dynamics. This research highlights the potential of reasonable accommodation to make debate more accessible, urging further exploration into its effects on communication and argumentation

Accommodation · Anxiety · Avatar · Emerging technologies · Information and Communications Technology · Public discourse · Communication in Education and Healthcare · Hate Speech and Cyberbullying Detection · Social Media and Politics

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access