workshop embodied conversational characters call participation first workshop embodied conversational characters support aaai cooperation acm sigchi granlibakken resort conference center lake tahoe tahoe city north shore california usa october 1215 1998 recent advances several core software technologies made possible new type humancomputer interface conversational character conversational characters autonomous anthropomorphic animated figures ability communicate multiple modalities including spoken language facial expressions gestures unlike textual natural language interfaces conversational characters ability perceive produce verbal nonverbal signals identify discourse structure regulate flow information interlocutors signals include intonational patterns gestures backchannel feedback signals turntaking protocols capabilities enable engage complex interactions human users via natural speech rather complex command languages menus graphical manipulations research conversational characters emerged number disciplines including among others artificial intelligence computational linguistics computer animation computer vision psychology cognitive science virtual reality cscw hci diversity naturally reflected broad range active research areas conversational character interfaces primary goal workshop advance state conversational character research development identifying novel approaches topics issues listed integrating framework embodied conversational humancomputer interaction provisional program found http www fxpal com wecc98 attendance attendance limited 40 people space attendees submit papers non presenters wishing attend workshop submit one page description current research interests relation workshop themes research descriptions emailed prevost pal xerox com later september 14 1998 list attendees finalized september 18 workshop organizers joseph w sullivan fx palo alto lab usa sullivan pal xerox com justine cassell mit media laboratory usa justine media mit edu workshop program committee committee co chairs scott prevost fx palo alto lab usa prevost pal xerox com elizabeth churchill fx palo alto lab usa churchill pal xerox com committee members elisabeth andr dfki gmbh germany elisabeth andre dfki de gene ball microsoft research usa geneb microsoft com phil cohen oregon graduate institute usa pcohen cse ogi edu barbara hayes roth stanford univ usa hayesroth cs stanford edu kenji mase atr international japan mase mic atr co jp clifford nass stanford university usa nass leland stanford edu mark steedman university pennsylvania usa steedman cis upenn edu kris thorisson lego denmark kris digi lego com demos chair timothy bickmore isii inc usa bickmore pal xerox com additional information information please consult workshop web page www fxpal com wecc98