A computer assisted human relations training tool for small group interactions

This paper describes the most recent developments of MAGIE-G (Minnesota Automated Guided Interaction Enhancement - Group version). MAGIE-G is an interactive video/microcomputer system designed to help participants in various kinds of small group meetings assess their face-to-face interactions with each other. This takes place in three stages. First, the group session is recorded on video tape. Next, all the group members view a video monitor presenting playback of their small group session while at the same time answering a sequence of questions systematically presented on a second monitor by a microcomputer. Immediately after viewing their tape, group members can receive feedback in the form of colored bar graphs, summarizing their responses to specific questions and allowing them to study changes in their responses over the course of their group session. Because MAGA-G is a fully interactive video-computer system, the group can use the graphs to identify critical moments in their group session and instruct the microcomputer to play back those moments on the video tape for futher analysis and group discussion. In additon to describing the operation of MAGIE-G, this paper also discusses the hardware/software configuration in current use, the relevance of this procedure to enhance small group interactions together with some illustrative data, and directions for future development.