ABSTRACT
In this paper we present the making of our animated assistant Anastasia and the interim findings of two associated experiments. In these participants, were instructed how to change a spindle on a micro milling machine. Results of the first explorative study with 10 participants were used to enhance and edit the instruction video. In the second experiment, 34 participants compared the modified video instruction with a commonly used instruction in written form (within-design). Firstly, the majority of participants preferred the video instruction. Secondly, the perceived workload was lower while being instructed by video. Thirdly, the items of the SAP questionnaire (Laugwitz, Schrepp & Held, 2006) such as attractiveness and originality were more ascribed to the instruction video. Fourthly, the perception of Anastasia regarding facilitating learning and credible (Ruy & Baylor, 2005) was in accordance with the image of an ideal virtual assistant.
