Modelling social skills and problem solving strategies used by children with ASD through cloud connected social robots as data loggers: first modelling approach

In this paper, we present a set up of cloudconnected social robots to measure and model the effect of LEGO Engineering and its collaborative nature on the development of social skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Here we introduce the first approach to the modelling process designed.Postprint (published version

relating conversational expressiveness to social presence and accpetance of an assistive social robot

Exploring the relationship between social presence, conversational expressiveness, and robot acceptance, we set up an experiment with a robot in an eldercare institution, comparing a more and less social condition. Participants showed more expressiveness with a more social agent and a higher score on expressiveness correlated with higher scores on social presence. Furthermore, scores on social presence correlated with the scores on the intention to use the system in the near future. However, we found no correlation between conversational expressiveness and robot acceptance

A brief review of robotics technologies to support social interventions for older users

In the last few decades, various studies demonstrated numerous robotics applications that can tackle the problem of the ageing population by supporting older people to live longer and independently at home. This article reviews the scientific literature and highlights how social robots can help the daily life of older people and be useful also as assessment tools for mild physical and mental conditions. It will underline the aspects of usability and acceptability of robotic solutions for older persons. Indeed, the design should maximise these to improve the users' attitude towards the actual use of the robots. The article discusses the advantages and concerns about the use of robotics technology in the social context with a vulnerable population. In this field, success is to assist social workers, not to replace them. We conclude recommending that care benefits should be balanced against ethical costs

Exploring the influence of age, gender, education and computer experience on robot acceptance by Older adults

It is generally recognized that non perceptual factors like age, gender, education and computer experience can have a moderating effect on how perception of a technology leads to acceptance of it. In our present research we are exploring the influence of these factors on the acceptance of assistive social robots by older adults. In this short paper we discuss the results of a user study in which a movie of an elderly person using a social assistive robot was shown to older adults. The analysis of the responses give a first indication on if and how these factors relate to the perceptual processes that lead to acceptance

The influence of social presence on acceptance of a companion robot by older people

If robotic companions are to be used in the near future by aging adults, they have to be accepted by them. In the process of developing a methodology to measure, predict and explain acceptance of robotic companions, we researched the influence of social abilities, social presence and perceived enjoyment. After an experiment (n=30) that included collecting usage data and a second experiment (n=40) with a robot in a more and less sociable condition we were able to confirm the relevance of these concepts. Results suggest that social abilities contribute to the sense of social presence when interacting with a robotic companion and this leads, through higher enjoyment to a higher acceptance score.This work was supported in part by the Hogeschool van Amsterdam and in part by the European Commission Division FP6-IST Future and Emerging Technologies under Contract FP6-002020 (Cogniron)

Nieuwe maatjes: de therapeutische inzet van sociale robots bij kinderen in de zorg

Op het gebied van sociale robots in de zorg voor kinderen wordt op dit moment veel onderzoek gedaan, zowel in Nederland als in andere landen. In dit boekje beschrijven we de visies en ervaringen van mensen die hierbij betrokken zijn – vanuit de zorg, de technologie of als onderzoeker. Via hun observaties, hun ideeën, hun verwachtingen en ervaringen krijgen we een beeld van de stand van zaken, maar ook van reacties van kinderen zelf en hun ouders

Emotional factors in robot-based assistive services for elderly at home

Emotional factors related to aging at home assistive technology are known to affect technology are known to affect technology acceptance effective use, and quality of life improvement. This paper is a survey on the affective dimension of robot-based systems conceived for helping elderly at home. the specificity of elders' capabilities (e.g. sensory and cognitive), coping styles, aspirations, lifestyles, social rules and preferences are faced with available knowledge from the fields of social psychology, sociology and gerontology. In the case of social robots, convenient verbal and non-verbal communication and motion behavior (e.g. social distance, space formations) are to be designed according to generational and cultural rules. Moreover, robot behavior should be congruent with its role (i.e. helper, companion) and affordances.Postprint (published version