Table 2.
Characteristics of conversational agents (CAs; n=41).
| Characteristics | Values, n (%) | ||
| Type of CA | |||
|
|
No avatar or no visual representation | 15 (37) | |
|
|
Avatar only | 14 (34) | |
|
|
ECAa | 8 (20) | |
|
|
Not specified | 4 (10) | |
| Delivery channel | |||
|
|
Web-based application | 15 (37) | |
|
|
Stand-alone smartphone app | 11 (27) | |
|
|
Computer- or laptop computer- or tablet computer–embedded program | 7 (17) | |
|
|
Messaging app basedb | 7 (17) | |
|
|
Not specified | 1 (2) | |
| Dialogue modality | |||
|
|
Rule based | 29 (71) | |
|
|
AIc enhanced | 12 (29) | |
| Personality | |||
|
|
Coach like | 19 (46) | |
|
|
Factual | 14 (34) | |
|
|
Health care professional like | 5 (12) | |
|
|
Informal | 3 (7) | |
aECA: embodied CA.
bSlack, Facebook Messenger, or WeChat.
cAI: artificial intelligence.