The Effect of Age on Engagement in Preschoolers' Child-Robot Interactions

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the effect of age on preschoolers' engagement - as measured by gaze direction - during a first-time interaction with a social robot. The results revealed significant differences in gaze patterns. Specifically, younger children were more easily distracted, and looked at the robot for a shorter duration and briefer periods of gaze. Moreover, they showed a higher level of reliance on the experimenters. The results have implications for the design of young preschoolers child-robot interactions and specifically for the ways in which the first introductory interactions should occur.