Frontiers - Human-Media Interaction 2021 : Frontiers Research Topic on Computational Commensality

Commensality is "the practice of sharing food and eating together in a social group''. A commensal setting is a highly complex social setting in which food consumption activities (e.g., taking a sip of wine) interact with social activities (e.g., talking, toasting). This interaction is itself subject to relational (who is sharing the food?), contextual (in what location is the food shared?), and cultural (what cultural etiquettes are observed?) factors. Commensality has been found to influence food choices, time spent eating, amount consumed, and enjoyment of food, as well as triggering positive emotions. At the same time eating activities influence interactions, for example reciprocal impressions, turn taking, interpersonal synchronization.