Comfort in Icebreaking Technologies: Using Social Robots to Break the Ice in Group Settings
Höglund, Ella (2022)
Höglund, Ella
2022
Master's Programme in Human-Technology Interaction
Informaatioteknologian ja viestinnän tiedekunta - Faculty of Information Technology and Communication Sciences
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2022-05-10
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202204263641
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:tuni-202204263641
Tiivistelmä
In this thesis the focus was on the comfort of the users in icebreaking group situations using icebreaking technologies. Social robots are a popular study subject within the Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) field; however, not many studies have been done regarding icebreaking social robots and that is why I decided to study this subject. I had three research questions in this thesis. Q1. What are the advantages and disadvantages to having social robots in icebreaking situations? Q2. What kind of attributes should a good icebreaking social robot have? Q3. How can we make social robots more appealing to people who do not want them in the icebreaking situations? These research questions were chosen because they are focused on the user's comfort in these situations. In these studies, my study participants were university students.
I conducted the first user study by having two comparable workshop groups. These groups consisted of a total of seven participants (n=7) the first group had the icebreaking mediated by a social robot and the second group had it mediated by a person. Both groups had the task of creating their own idea of an icebreaking social robot. I gathered data through a short group interview and a questionnaire. Based on the results gathered from the workshop study and from the literature review I created an icebreaking robot concept. This icebreaking robot concept was then evaluated by an online user study with five participants (n=5). In evaluation I used a video of a social robot to help me present the functionalities of my icebreaking robot concept. The functionalities I was not able to present I described or showcased in other ways. I collected data from the Robot Attitude Scale (RAS) and by conducting an interview.
The results gained from my research indicate that social robots are generally liked but icebreaking situations can produce some mixed feelings. Icebreaking situations were disliked by some of the study participants. However, many knew the necessity of these activities and were able to look past their personal preferences. Overall, the study participants were comfortable with having a social robot in the icebreaking situation. Many thought it was a good addition to an icebreaking situation. Many ideas for making the icebreaking robot better were also suggested, for example, clearer speaking voice, directed gaze and more versatile interaction. The findings were encouraging, and I believe social robots have huge potential for positive change in many different areas of interaction especially for individuals struggling with social interaction.
I conducted the first user study by having two comparable workshop groups. These groups consisted of a total of seven participants (n=7) the first group had the icebreaking mediated by a social robot and the second group had it mediated by a person. Both groups had the task of creating their own idea of an icebreaking social robot. I gathered data through a short group interview and a questionnaire. Based on the results gathered from the workshop study and from the literature review I created an icebreaking robot concept. This icebreaking robot concept was then evaluated by an online user study with five participants (n=5). In evaluation I used a video of a social robot to help me present the functionalities of my icebreaking robot concept. The functionalities I was not able to present I described or showcased in other ways. I collected data from the Robot Attitude Scale (RAS) and by conducting an interview.
The results gained from my research indicate that social robots are generally liked but icebreaking situations can produce some mixed feelings. Icebreaking situations were disliked by some of the study participants. However, many knew the necessity of these activities and were able to look past their personal preferences. Overall, the study participants were comfortable with having a social robot in the icebreaking situation. Many thought it was a good addition to an icebreaking situation. Many ideas for making the icebreaking robot better were also suggested, for example, clearer speaking voice, directed gaze and more versatile interaction. The findings were encouraging, and I believe social robots have huge potential for positive change in many different areas of interaction especially for individuals struggling with social interaction.