Together alone, Yōkobo, a sensible presence robject for the home of newly retired couples

Abstract

Feeling together and at the same time feeling free while sharing the same roof is a balance that newly retired couples try to reach. Indeed the beginning of retirement is complex, and sometimes, even when both spouses find themselves at home together, some spouses could experience a feeling of loneliness. To respond to this insight, we introduce the concept of “sensible presence robject” - Yōkobo to fill this loneliness gap through subtle interactions. The pictorial introduces and describes the different steps of the design process of Yōkobo as a non-anthropomorphic and non-vocal robot for the entrance of dwellings. Through its expressiveness, Yōkobo is a presence messenger for newly retired couples. On a larger scale, this research is a manifesto for the slow technology trend in which perceptions and time open a discussion on poetic sensibility.