The Social Aspects of Companion Robots

Abstract

Advanced technologies, including automation, Artificial Intelligence, ubiquitous computing, and smart products are influencing our everyday lives. Their complex nature brings new challenges and opportunities for all users, especially the older generations. This paper presents an ongoing PhD project that investigates the social context of older users (aged 50+) interacting with new emerging smart products using an emotional design theoretical perspective. The data is multimodal user research consisting of pre-interaction interviews, observation of first-time interactions, extended user experience of ten participants interacting with social robots in their home environments, and post-interaction interviews. In this paper, we present and discuss some of the patterns revealed by our investigations, including tactile experiences, the notion of realness, and privacy and trust around emerging technologies. We argue that the study of the affective dimensions of advanced technologies offers an actionable emotional categorisation of users' experiences with practical applications for the design of future smart products.