Selma Sabanovic

A spatial model of engagement for a social robot

Even if a socially interactive robot has perfect information about the location, pose, and movement of humans in the environment, it is unclear how this information should be used to enable the initiation, maintenance, and termination of social interactions. We review models that have been developed to describe social engagement based on spatial relationships and describe a system developed for use on a robotic receptionist. The system uses spatial information from a laser tracker and head pose information from a camera to classify people in a categorical model of engagement. The robots behaviors are determined by the presence of people in these different levels. We evaluate the system using observational behavioral analysis of recorded interactions between the robot and humans. This analysis suggests improvements to the current system: namely, to put a stronger emphasis on movement in the estimation of social engagement and to vary the timing of interactive behaviors

A dancing robot for rhythmic social interaction

This paper describes a robotic system that uses dance as a form of social interaction to explore the properties and importance of rhythmic movement in general social interaction. The system consists of a small creature-like robot whose movement is controlled by a rhythm-based software system. Environmental rhythms can be extracted from auditory or visual sensory stimuli, and the robot synchronizes its movement to a dominant rhythm. The system was demonstrated, and an exploratory study conducted, with children interacting with the robot in a generalized dance task. Through a behavioral analysis of videotaped interactions, we found that the robots synchronization with the background music had an effect on childrens interactive involvement with the robot. Furthermore, we observed a number of expected and unexpected styles and modalities of interactive exploration and play that inform our discussion on the next steps in the design of a socially rhythmic robotic system.

Robots in the wild: observing human-robot social interaction outside the lab

This paper discusses the use of observational studies of human-robot social interaction in open human-inhabited environments as a method for improving on the design and evaluating the interactive capabilities of social robots. First, we discuss issues that have surfaced in attempts to evaluate social interactions between humans and robots. Next, we review two observational studies involving robots interacting socially with humans and discuss how the results can be applied to improving robot design. The first is an analysis of a mobile conference-attending robot that performed a search task by augmenting its perception through social interaction with human attendees. The second is an analysis of a stationary robotic receptionist that provides information to visitors and enhances interaction through story-telling. Through these examples, we show how observational studies can be applied to human-robot social interactions in varying contexts and with differing tasks to quantitatively and qualitatively evaluate (and discover unanticipated aspects of) the social interaction. Finally, we discuss design recommendations suggested by insights gained through these analyses

Robots in Society, Society in Robots : Mutual Shaping of Society and Technology as a Framework for Social Robot Design ()

This paper analyzes scientists’ discourses on the social impacts and acceptability of robotics, based on data collected through participant observation and interviews with robotics researchers in the US and Japan. It shows that a linear, technologically determinist, view of the interaction between robots and society is dominant in the field; in this narrative the social impact of robotic technologies derives mostly from their technological capabilities and the aim is for society to accept and adapt to technological innovations. The framework of mutual shaping and co-production, which explores the dynamic interaction between robotics and society, is proposed as an alternative perspective on the dynamics between society and technology and a framework for envisioning and evaluating social robots. This approach focuses on analyzing how social and cultural factors influence the way technologies are designed, used, and evaluated as well as how technologies affect our construction of social values and meanings. Finally, the paper describes a range of methodologies of contextually grounded and participatory design that fit the mutual shaping framework and support a socially robust understanding of technological development that enables the participation of multiple stakeholders and disciplines.

Socially Distributed Perception: GRACE plays social tag at AAAI 2005

This paper presents a robot search task (social tag) that uses social interaction, in the form of asking for help, as an integral component of task completion. Socially distributed perception is defined as a robots ability to augment its limited sensory capacities through social interaction. We describe the task of social tag and its implementation on the robot GRACE for the AAAI 2005 Mobile Robot Competition & Exhibition. We then discuss our observations and analyses of GRACEs performance as a situated interaction with conference participants. Our results suggest we were successful in promoting a form of social interaction that allowed people to help the robot achieve its goal. Furthermore, we found that different social uses of the physical space had an effect on the nature of the interaction. Finally, we discuss the implications of this design approach for effective and compelling human-robot interaction, considering its relationship to concepts such as dependency, mixed initiative, and socially distributed cognition.

Use of seal-like robot PARO in sensory group therapy for older adults with dementia

This work presents the preliminary results of an eight- week study of the seal-like robot PARO being used in a sensory therapy activity in a local nursing home. Participants were older adults with different levels of cognitive impairment. We analyzed participant behaviors in video recorded during the weekly interactions between older adults, a therapist, and PARO. We found that PAROs continued use led to a steady increase in physical interaction between older adults and the robot and an increasing willingness among participants to interact with it.

Culturally variable preferences for robot design and use in South Korea, Turkey, and the United States

Based on the results of an online survey conducted with participants in South Korea (N=73), Turkey (N=46), and the United States (N=99), we show that people’s perceptions and preferences regarding acceptable designs and uses for robots are culturally variable on a number of dimensions, including general attitudes towards robots, preferences for robot form, interactivity, intelligence, and sociality. We also explore correlations between these design and use characteristics and factors cited as having an effect on user perceptions and acceptance of robots, such as religious beliefs and media exposure. Our research suggests that culturally variable attitudes and preferences toward robots are not simply reducible to these factors, rather they relate to more specific social dynamics and norms. In conclusion, we discuss potential design and research implications of culturally variable and universally accepted user preferences regarding robots. Categories and Subject Descriptors H.1.2 [User/Machine Systems]: Human Factors; H.5.2 [UserCentered Design]; I.2.9 [Robotics]: Commercial robots and applications; K.4: Computers and Society General Terms Design, Human Factors

Cultural design of domestic robots: A study of user expectations in Korea and the United States

In this paper, we describe the results of a comparative analysis of user-created designs for future domestic robots made by participants in Korea and the US. We identify their culturally variable expectations and preferences. We use a generative design methodology, which includes users visualizing their designs followed by semi-structured interviews. We describe our results in four areas of design: the look and feel of the robot, interaction mode, social role, and desired task. We identify variable cultural models relating to robotic technology and the cultural meaning of the domestic context as central factors. Finally, we discuss the design implications of our findings to culturally situated robot design.

Roillo: Creating a Social Robot for Playrooms

In this paper, we introduce Roillo, a social robotic platform for investigating, in the context of childrens playrooms, questions about how to design compelling nonverbal interactive behaviors for social robots. Specifically, we are interested in the importance of rhythm to natural interactions and its role in the expression of affect, attention, and intent. Our design process has consisted of rendering, animation, surveys, mechanical prototyping, and puppeteered interaction with children

Inventing Japan’s ‘robotics culture’: The repeated assembly of science, technology, and culture in social robotics

Using interviews, participant observation, and published documents, this article analyzes the co-construction of robotics and culture in Japan through the technical discourse and practices of robotics researchers. Three cases from current robotics research – the seal-like robot PARO, the Humanoid Robotics Project HRP-2 humanoid, and ‘kansei robotics’ – show the different ways in which scientists invoke culture to provide epistemological grounding and possibilities for social acceptance of their work. These examples show how the production and consumption of social robotic technologies are associated with traditional crafts and values, how roboticists negotiate among social, technical, and cultural constraints while designing robots, and how humans and robots are constructed as cultural subjects in social robotics discourse. The conceptual focus is on the repeated assembly of cultural models of social behavior, organization, cognition, and technology through roboticists’ narratives about the development of advanced robotic technologies. This article provides a picture of robotics as the dynamic construction of technology and culture and concludes with a discussion of the limits and possibilities of this vision in promoting a culturally situated understanding of technology and a multicultural view of science.