The potential of physical motion cues

Abstract

Autonomous robotic systems can automatically perform actions on behalf of users in the domestic environment to help people in their daily activities. Such systems aim to reduce users' cognitive and physical workload, and improve wellbeing. While the benefits of these systems are clear, recent studies suggest that users may misconstrue their performance of tasks. We see an opportunity in designing interaction techniques that improve how users perceive the performance of such systems. We report two lab studies (N=16 each) designed to investigate whether showing physical motion, which is showing the process of a system through movement (that is intrinsic to the system's task), of an autonomous system as it completes its task, affects how users perceive its performance. To ensure our studies are ecologically valid and to motivate participants to provide thoughtful responses we adopted consensus-oriented financial incentives. Our results suggest that physical presence does yield higher performance ratings.

Machine Body Language: Expressing a Smart Speaker’s Activity with Intelligible Physical Motion

“…By omitting humanlike features such as eyes, ears, and hands, researchers have shown that physical motion, or actuation in the case of objects, can also effectively convey the intention of a social robot [6], an automatic door [41], a piece of furniture [67], or a smart appliance [30,74]. Non-humanoid robot design has shown to be effective in allowing people to understand both whether the robot is suitable for social interaction [6] and its intent by observing simple motions and draw positive and/or negative emotions from those.…”

“…However, it is still an open question as to how more autonomous IoT devices [3] will blend into people's homes. Some IoT devices may start to adopt techniques from robotics [30,50,57], enabling them to react to users through physical motions, enriching their expressiveness. Indeed, research has shown that observing objects move elicits emotions in people and interpretations of "intent" [6,25,30,36,41,74].…”

“…Some IoT devices may start to adopt techniques from robotics [30,50,57], enabling them to react to users through physical motions, enriching their expressiveness. Indeed, research has shown that observing objects move elicits emotions in people and interpretations of "intent" [6,25,30,36,41,74]. Desmond Morris wrote about "the mannerism of walking, sitting and moving" [54, p.260], which is a trait people pick up throughout their lives that helps them read other's intentions, such as asking for permission to talk by raising one's hand in the air.…”

Evaluating the Effect of Feedback from Different Computer Vision Processing Stages

“…User understanding can be afected by many factors, from simple misunderstandings of terminology [2] to complex subconscious biases. A recent study of foor cleaning robots [9] describes how users rated a cleaning robot's performance to be better when they had witnessing it in motion. The evidence supporting the need to inform users of underlying processes is compelling.…”

Exploring Physical Intelligibility and Control with Smart Speakers

“…An exception is Ripple Thermostat [13], which shows shape change as a promising alternative. Researchers have also observed an influence of physical movement on people's perception of autonomous artifacts' performance [7] and objects' intent [9]. Ju et al demonstrated how a system can adapt its digital content on an electronic whiteboard depending on people's physical proximity to it, yet allow people to physically override the changes as they get within arm's reach [8].…”