Designing a usable interface for an interactive robot

Abstract

The traditional emphasis of Rehabilitation Robotics has been dominated largely by the logistics of system development rather than how to maximise overall system usability [1]. The research programme at Cambridge has focused on the shortcomings of this approach and the identification of strategies for placing the user exclusively at the centre of the design process [2]. This paper describes the re-design of the interface for an Interactive Robotic Visual Inspection System (IRVIS) and how this was used to formulate a structured, methodical approach to user-centred interface design. A discussion of the original IRVIS interface design will be presented, followed by a description of current usability theory and its role in formulating the proposed five-level user-centred design approach. The results of the evaluation of this approach, through user trials, will also be discussed.