Design Considerations for Child-Robot Interaction in Pediatric Contexts

Abstract

Social robots can improve quality of life for children undergoing prolonged hospital stays, both by offering a fun and interactive distraction and by providing practical assistance during procedure support and pain management. In this paper, we present important considerations for robots involved in pediatric contexts. These considerations are based on a need-finding interview conducted with a gaming technology specialist at a children's hospital. By summarizing their experiences, we identify considerations affecting the design of robot morphology and behavior for this unique use case, as well as the explore the role of parents, healthcare staff, and child life specialists.