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Using Socially Expressive Mixed Reality Arms for Enhancing Low-Expressivity Robots

Using Socially Expressive Mixed Reality Arms for Enhancing Low-Expressivity Robots

Authors :
Groechel, Thomas R.
Shi, Zhonghao
Pakkar, Roxanna
Matarić, Maja J.
Publication Year :
2019

Abstract

Expressivity--the use of multiple modalities to convey internal state and intent of a robot--is critical for interaction. Yet, due to cost, safety, and other constraints, many robots lack high degrees of physical expressivity. This paper explores using mixed reality to enhance a robot with limited expressivity by adding virtual arms that extend the robot's expressiveness. The arms, capable of a range of non-physically-constrained gestures, were evaluated in a between-subject study ($n=34$) where participants engaged in a mixed reality mathematics task with a socially assistive robot. The study results indicate that the virtual arms added a higher degree of perceived emotion, helpfulness, and physical presence to the robot. Users who reported a higher perceived physical presence also found the robot to have a higher degree of social presence, ease of use, usefulness, and had a positive attitude toward using the robot with mixed reality. The results also demonstrate the users' ability to distinguish the virtual gestures' valence and intent.<br />Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, 3 tables, In 2019 IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactactive Communication (RO-MAN '19), New Delhi, India, Oct-2019

Details

Database :
arXiv
Publication Type :
Report
Accession number :
edsarx.1911.09713
Document Type :
Working Paper