Exploring the Design Space of Extra-Linguistic Expression for Robots

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the new design space of extra-linguistic cues inspired by graphical tropes used in graphic novels and animation to enhance the expressiveness of social robots. We identified a set of cues that can be used to generate expressions, including smoke/steam/fog, water droplets, and bubbles, and prototyped devices that can generate these fluid expressions for a robot. We conducted design sessions where eight designers explored the use and utility of these expressions in conveying the robot’s internal states in various design scenarios. Our analysis of the 22 designs, the associated design justifications, and the interviews with designers revealed patterns in how each form of expression was used, how they were combined with nonverbal cues, and where the participants drew their inspiration from. These findings informed the design of an integrated module called EmoPack, which can be used to augment the expressive capabilities of any robot platform.