Designing Human-Robot Interaction for Dependent Elderlies: a Living Lab Approach

Abstract

This paper describes the design and evaluation process of a mobile social robotic solution for elderlies, following a living lab approach. The living lab approach combines the principles of human-centred approach and participatory design. The research question at the heart of this study is whether a proper understanding of needs and participation of stakeholders in the design process ensures usefulness and acceptance of the solution. Informed by fieldwork in a retirement home, a prototype of human-robot interaction has been iteratively designed and evaluated with the participation of users. This HRI design serves as the basis to examine the practical acceptance this social robot interaction, as a first step to a broader reflection about the social acceptability of social robots. The first insights of this study are presented in this paper.