“The Robot Should Be Programmed for Me”: User Tests Evaluating a Telepresence Robot for the Social Integration of Older Adults

ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction, vol. 15, pp. 1–31

Abstract

Telepresence robots that allow communication between older adults and their remotely located social contacts can foster social integration. The present laboratory test study explores older adults’ successful use of a telepresence robot (Research Question 1 [RQ1]), as well as their perceived enjoyment (RQ2), perceived ease of use (RQ3), perceived usefulness (RQ4), perceived social presence (RQ5), and intention to use (RQ6) a telepresence robot for robot-mediated communication (RMC). Semi-structured interviews, observations, and questionnaires were applied with a group of N = 14 older adults living in Germany. Participants completed a navigational task (as remote users) and an interpersonal communication task (as local users). Results show older adults used the telepresence robot successfully (RQ1) during the tasks. Furthermore, in interviews, older adults described their perceived enjoyment (RQ2), perceived ease of use (RQ3), and perceived usefulness (RQ4) during RMC as generally high. Perceived social presence (RQ5) during RMC was generally described as high, with RMC being considered a viable substitute when face-to-face communication is not possible. Finally, only two participants (2/14) had no intention to use (RQ6) a telepresence robot in the long term. Future design recommendations are provided, such as adapting the telepresence robot’s functions to older adults physical, psychological, and social conditions.

Authors 6

1. Melisa Conde

   Technische Universität Ilmenau

   Affiliation as printed

   Media Psychology and Media Design Group, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany

   Media Psychology and Media Design Group, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany

2. Söhnke Benedikt Fischedick

   Technische Universität Ilmenau

   Affiliation as printed

   Neuroinformatics and Cognitive Robotics Lab, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany

   Neuroinformatics and Cognitive Robotics Lab, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany

3. Stephanie Arévalo Arboleda Aachen Audiovisual Technology Group

   Technische Universität Ilmenau · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Audiovisual Technology Group, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany RWTH Aachen, Germany

4. Horst–Michael Groß

   Technische Universität Ilmenau

   Affiliation as printed

   Neuroinformatics and Cognitive Robotics Lab, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany

   Neuroinformatics and Cognitive Robotics Lab, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany

5. Alexander Raake Aachen Audiovisual Technology Group

   Technische Universität Ilmenau · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany

   Audiovisual Technology Group, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany RWTH Aachen, Germany

6. Nicola M. Döring

   Technische Universität Ilmenau

   Affiliation as printed

   Media Psychology and Media Design Group, Ilmenau University of Technology, Ilmenau, Germany

   Media Psychology and Media Design Group, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany