Intuitive Interfaces? Interface Design and its Impact on Human-Robot Interaction

Abstract

One goal of developing humanoid robots and virtual agents is to allow for intuitive and natural interaction with technical systems. However, up to now existing robotic systems do not live up to this promise. Based on an empirical approach that combines the analysis of the interface design of three different robot/agent systems with the micro-analysis of empirical encounters between humans and respective systems, we show that and how the systems provide contradictory 'affordances', which make it systematically difficult to start and continue satisfying interactions with them.