The Role of Human Perception in HumanRobot Interaction

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The Role of Human Perception in Human-Robot
Interaction

• Social Robotics Reading Group
• 3 November 2003

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Agenda

• All Robots Are Not Created Equal The Design and
  Perception of Humanoid Robot Heads
• Carl DiSalvo, Francine Gemperle, Jodi Forlizzi,
  Sara Kiesler
• Matching Robot Appearance and Behavior to Tasks
  to Improve Human-Robot Cooperation
• Jennifer Goetz, Sara Kiesler, Aaron Powers
• Discussion

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Paper 1, All Robots Are Not Created Equal
overview

• Assumption A human-like head is desirable for
  human-robot interaction
• Valid? See paper 2!
• Question What makes a humanoid robotic head
  more (or less) human-like?
• Study Survey

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Method

• Images of 48 robots from 3 categories
• Research (e.g. Pearl)
• Consumer Products (e.g. ASIMO)
• Fiction (e.g. Transformer)
• Images rated on a scale of 1 (Not very
  human-like) to 5 (Very human-like)
• 20 participants per survey

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Analysis Presence of features

• Presence (or lack) of features is important
• Nose, Eyelids, Mouth
• Increase perception of humanness the most
• More features more human-like

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Analysis Dimensions
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Analysis Comparison to human head

• Prototypical human head average of
• Mona Lisa
• George Bush
• Michelangelos David
• Britney Spears
• Most human-like robots very similar dimensions
• Less human-like diverged

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Conclusion Design Suggestions
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How human-like is too human-like?

• The Uncanny Valley
• As a robot increases in humanness there is a
  point where the robot is not 100 similar to
  humans but the balance between humanness and
  machine-like is uncomfortable.

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Paper 2, Matching Robot Appearance and
Behavior overview

• Question How should service robots look and
  behave, so that people comply?
• Example getting elderly to exercise
• Three studies
• 1. Preferences for humanlike robots in jobs
• 2. Compliance with a playful or serious robot
• 3. Study 2 plus entertaining vs. serious task
• (Findings just presented at RO-MAN)

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Study 1 Preferences for robots in jobs

• Three stages of humanlikeness
• Human
• Midstage
• Machine
• Male vs. female youth vs. adult (heads only)
• Survey which robot would be suitable for which
  jobs?
• Robots presented in pairs (which would be more
  suitable for ltxgt?)

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Study 1 results

• Humanlike preferred over machinelike
• Actress, drawing instructor (Artistic)
• Retail clerk, sales representative (Enterprise)
• Office clerk, hospital message carrier
  (Conventional)
• Aerobics instructor, museum tour guide (Social)

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Study 1 results (continued)

• Machinelike preferred over humanlike
• Lab assistant, customs inspector (Investigative)
• Soldier, security guard (Realistic)

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Study 2 Compliance with a serious or playful
robot,Background

• Positivity hypothesis
• More attractive, extroverted, cheerful robot will
  have greater compliance
• Matching hypothesis
• Appearance and behavior should match the
  seriousness of the situation

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Study 2 Method

• Pearl leads participant in exercise
• Playful Close your eyes Relax Breathe in
  Dont forget to breathe out. I dont want you to
  pass out!
• Serious Close your eyes Relax Breathe in
  Breathe out... Are you feeling relaxed?
• Asked to exercise on own (as long as you can)

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Study 2 Results

• Compliance how long the participant exercised
• Playful robot average of 25 seconds
• Serious robot average of 53 seconds
• Consistent with matching hypothesis
• Manipulation check
• Serious robot more conscientious, smarter
• Playful robot more playful and witty (and
  obnoxious)

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Study 3 Fun vs. Serious Task, overview

• 2x2 design
• Playful vs. Serious robot
• Fun vs. Serious task
• Tasks
• Serious Exercise task from study 2
• Slight change as many exercises as you can
• Fun Jellybean task
• Create recipes using gourmet jellybeans
• As many combinations as you can

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Study 3 Results
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Conclusions

• Match appearance and behavior to task
• More humanlike appearance seems better for
  human-robot social interaction
• Behavior needs to match task
• What thresholds are appropriate?
• How human in appearance?
• How playful/serious?