Elham Saadatian

Kissenger: design of a kiss transmission device

In this paper, we present Kissenger (Kiss Messenger), an interactive device that provides a physical interface for transmitting a kiss between two remotely connected people. Each device is paired to another and can sense and transmit the amount of force that a user applies to a pair of lips which is recreated on the other device using motors. Kissenger was designed to augment already existing remote communication technologies such as video chat. The goal of this work is to promote intimacy between humans in long distance relationships. After presenting the background and motivation for the need of such a device, we describe the design process that consisted of three iteration stages, each with its own focus and evaluation. We then present a preliminary user study performed with seven couples that compare Kissenger to current video chat technology.

Mediating intimacy in long-distance relationships using kiss messaging

Intimate interactions between remotely located individuals are not well supported by conventional communication tools, mainly due to the lack of physical contact. Also, haptic research has not focused on the use of a kiss as a mode of interaction that maintains intimacy in long distance relationships. In this study, we designed and developed a haptic device called Kissenger (Kiss-Messenger) for this issue. Kissenger is an interactive device that provides a physical interface for transmitting a kiss between two remotely connected people. Each device is paired with another and the amount of force and shape of the kiss by the user is sensed and transmitted to another device that is replicated using actuators. Kissenger is designed to augment already existing remote communication technologies. Challenges in the design and development of the system are addressed through an iterative design process involving constant evaluation by users after each stage. The devices are evaluated through a short- and a long-term user study with remotely located couples. The results point to an initial acceptance of the device with feedback from the users on directions to improve the overall experience. This study discusses potential issues that designers should be aware of when prototyping for remote intimate interactions.

Low cost infant monitoring and communication system

This paper proposes a low-cost, mobile-based monitoring and advisory system that continuously monitors the baby and remotely updates the mother on child status. This technology involves continuous measuring of the temperature, heart rate and motion and send it to a server where the data is processed. The server analyzes the received data and sends the processed biological information of the baby to the mother and generates an alert system if the conditions of the baby are found abnormal. These alert messages are transmitted to support systems and nearby health clinics in emergency situations. Also, advisory first-aid information is sent to the mother in order to take immediate action. Thus, this ubiquitous system would enhance mothers awareness of their baby health status.

A Multidisciplinary Artificial Intelligence Model of an Affective Robot

A multidisciplinary approach to a novel artificial intelligence system for an affective robot is presented in this paper. The general objective of the system is to develop a robotic system which strives to achieve a high level of emotional bond between humans and robot by exploring human love. Such a relationship is a contingent process of attraction, affection and attachment from humans towards robots, and the belief of the vice versa from robots to humans. The advanced artificial intelligence of the system includes three modules, namely Probabilistic Love Assembly (PLA), based on the psychology of love, Artificial Endocrine System (AES), based on the physiology of love, and Affective State Transition (AST), based on emotions. The PLA module employs a Bayesian network to incorporate psychological parameters of affection in the robot. The AES module employs artificial emotional and biological hormones via a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN). The AST module uses a novel transition method for handling affective states of the robot. These three modules work together to manage emotional behaviours of the robot.

Personalizable embodied telepresence system for remote interpersonal communication

Recent advances in human-robot interaction have enhanced the ability of robots to act as a mediator in remote communication. However, embodied expressive communication across distance is not supported by the current technology. Physical body is a powerful conduit for affective communication, and thus mediating properties of the physical body through an agent has been proposed to address this deficiency. In this paper, we offer heuristic justification on vision of embodied interfaces by adopting perspectives from social psychology in the context of mediated interpersonal communication. Based on our studies, we created a pair of robots named “Mini-Surrogate” as a personalized telecommunication medium which recreates and emulates the physical presence of a specific person. It applies the concepts of enclothed and embodied cognition to convey the illusion of a particular persons presence. Through minimal prototyping in terms of surrogate behaviors, we explored desired nonverbal cues by remotely located couples to satisfy their communication needs while being apart. Our exploratory study pointed to the acceptance of prototyped medium and showed that personalization could enhance communication affectivity in terms of providing awareness and reminding of the specific person. We realized the desired nonverbal cues that helped remote couples to perceive the interface as their remote partner. The findings contribute towards user experience, communication and robotic researchers to enhance the quality of telecommunication for remote couples.

Technologically Mediated Intimate Communication: An Overview and Future Directions

Emerging field of intimate computing relates to the technologies that aim to mediate affective communication across distance. Conventional telecommunication media are originally designed for collaborations and task oriented goals with the poor support of intimate experiences. Contemporary lifestyle changes leaded to design and adoption of technologies in support of long distance relationships. The present work is a study of existing prototypical systems and related conceptual studies in this realm of study. Their design perspective, mechanism and human factors are described. Challenges coupled to this domain are studied and future research directions are proposed.

XOXO: Haptic interface for mediated intimacy

Despite advances in telecommunication technologies, remote communication is still not as convincing as face to face communication, since haptic sense, as an important medium of expressing affection, is missing. In this paper, we describe a frameworks for reinforcing advantages of the intimate haptics sensation to exchange feelings and increase the sense of presence in a remote caring communication as well as XOXO prototype of intimate haptics interface for interpersonal communication through hugging and kissing. XOXO facilitates physical interaction in a remote communication between humans by enabling to kiss and hug one another through robotics interface and wearable hug reproducing jacket. The objective of this system is to develop a computer mediated haptics stimulation platform which can produce almost similar affective response on humans relative to a real physical intimate haptics interaction.

Towards robotics leadership: an analysis of leadership characteristics and the roles robots will inherit in future human society

This paper aims to present the idea of robotics leadership. By investigating leadership definitions and identifying domains where humans have failed to lead, this paper proposes how robots can step in to fill various leadership positions. This is exemplified by referring to two examples, stock brokering and transportation, and explains how robots could be used instead. Furthermore, this paper aims to provoke discussion by identifying firstly some potential limitations of robots in leadership positions and secondly by proposing that our current technological ecosystem not only is suited for machines to assume leadership positions but rather is inherently headed towards it.

CULTURAL ROBOTICS: The Culture of Robotics and Robotics in Culture

In this paper, we have investigated the concept of “Cultural Robotics” with regard to the evolution of social into cultural robots in the 21st Century. By defining the concept of culture, the potential development of a culture between humans and robots is explored. Based on the cultural values of the robotics developers, and the learning ability of current robots, cultural attributes in this regard are in the process of being formed, which would define the new concept of cultural robotics. According to the importance of the embodiment of robots in the sense of presence, the influence of robots in communication culture is anticipated. The sustainability of robotics culture based on diversity for cultural communities for various acceptance modalities is explored in order to anticipate the creation of different attributes of culture between robots and humans in the future.

An affective telepresence system using smartphone high level sensing and intelligent behavior generation

A new approach in telepresence robots via automatic behavior generation is proposed in this paper. The robot behavior is generated using the Smartphone high level sensing, and personality based mood transition. The current telepresence systems require the simultaneous presence of both communication parties. Therefore, due to the time and context differences in distant communication, the opportunity of connectedness is reduced. This is especially important for more intimate telecommunications, that ongoing connectedness is more required. To solve these problems, we developed an automatic behavior generation system, that produces behaviors on behalf of the remote person. In order to be able to infer the state of the remote person more frequently and dynamically, Smartphone sensors are used for automatic high level sensing. Furthermore, to produce more believable affective expressions by the robot, the expressions correspond to the remote users personality stereotype. Fuzzy Kohonen Clustering Network (FKCN), is utilized to linearly fuse the inferred mood states and regenerate them on the agent. To evaluate the results 120 samples of the users Smartphone usage and the mood in different times of the day were logged. The state estimated by the model were compared against the users self report data. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the users self-perceived feelings, and the feelings recognized by the model.