Field Study on Usability and Security Perceptions Surrounding Social Robots

Abstract

The rise of smart speakers connected to voice-controlled virtual assistants has increased the potential of more elaborate robotic devices to enter personal spaces as evidenced by the number of companies building such products. Of special interest are the so called social robots, which are intended to interact with humans in a manner that resembles more a friendly companion rather than a mere device. We organized controlled, group sessions during which a total of 97 participants of diverse ages and genders interacted with five devices: two smart speakers, two programmable artificially intelligent humanoids, and one social robot. From the analysis of survey data, we report on the opinions of our participants regarding both the usability and security features of these devices, and compare to conclusions from related studies, when applicable. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to look at the user experience with social robots focusing on security and privacy.