Evaluating How Desktop Companion Robot Behaviors Influence Work Experience and Robot Perception

Abstract

Desktop companion robots have attracted increasing attention, yet their application to support office workers requires further exploration. In envisioning the role of desktop companion robots as a helpful “peer” for office workers, we conducted a lab experiment (N=36) to examine how desktop companion robots’ behavior influenced office workers’ productivity, work experience, and robot perception. Participants performed a digitization task alongside robots under three conditions: (a) static robot, displaying no interactive behaviors; (b) work-along robot, mirroring the participants’ work/rest patterns; and (c) work-opposite robot, active during participants’ rest times and inactive during work. Results demonstrated that each robot condition led to distinct perceptions of the robot (e.g., as a pet, workmate, or supervisor) and peer effects (i.e., peer presence, peer support, and peer pressure), significantly influencing participants’ task experience. Our findings offer design implications for designing future desktop companion robots to better support office workers.