Augmented reality applications in design and manufacturing

Social psychology offers a perspective on the acceptance and adoption of technology that is not often considered in technical circles. In this paper, we discuss several adoption-of-technology models with respect to the acceptance of domestic robots: we examine social-psychology literature and apply it directly to human-robot interaction. We raise key points that we feel will be pivotal to how domestic users respond to robots, and provide a set of guidelines that roboticists and designers of robotic interfaces can use to consider and analyze their designs. Ultimately, understanding how users respond to robots and the reasons behind their responses will enable designers to creating domestic robots that are accepted into homes.

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Toward Acceptable Domestic Robots: Applying Insights from Social Psychology

In this paper we report on an initial survey of user evaluation techniques used in Augmented Reality (AR) research. To identify all papers which include AR evaluations we reviewed research publications between the years 1993 and 2007 from online databases of selected scientific publishers. Starting with a total of 6071 publications we filtered the articles in several steps which resulted in 165 AR related publications with user evaluations. These publications were classified in two different ways: according to the evaluation type used following an earlier literature survey classification scheme; and according to the evaluation methods or approach used. We present the results of out literature survey, provide a comprehensive list of references of the selected publications, and discuss some possible research opportunities for future work. Keywords: Augmented Reality, user evaluation, evaluation methods. This work may not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part for any commercial purpose. Permission to copy in whole or in part without payment of fee is granted for non-profit educational and research purposes provided that all such whole or partial copies include the following: a notice that such copying is by permission of

A survey of evaluation techniques used in augmented reality studies

Augmented reality system for operator support in human–robot collaborative assembly

The experience of interacting with a robot has been shown to be very different in comparison to people's interaction experience with other technologies and artifacts, and often has a strong social or emotional component— a difference that poses potential challenges related to the design and evaluation of HRI. In this paper we explore this difference, and its implications on evaluating HRI. We out- line how this difference is due in part to the general com- plexity of robots' overall context of interaction, related to their dynamic presence in the real world and their tendency to invoke a sense of agency. We suggest that due to these differences HCI evalua- tion methods should be applied to HRI with care, and we present a survey of select HCI evaluation techniques from the perspective of the unique challenges of robots. We pro- pose a view on social interaction with robots that we call the holistic interaction experience, and introduce a set of three perspectives for exploring social interaction with ro- bots: visceral factors of interaction, social mechanics, and social structures. We demonstrate how our three perspec- tives can be used in practice, both as guidelines to discuss and categorize robot interaction, and as a component in the evaluation process. Further, we propose an original heuristic for brainstorming various possibilities of interaction experi- ences based on a concept we call the interaction experience map.

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Evaluating Human-Robot Interaction Focusing on the Holistic Interaction Experience

This paper describes, Napkin Sketch, a 3D sketching interface which attempts to support sketch-based artistic expression in 3D, mimicking some of the qualities of conventional sketching media and tools both in terms of physical properties and interaction experience. A portable tablet PC is used as the sketching platform, and handheld mixed reality techniques are employed to allow 3D sketches to be created on top of a physical napkin. Intuitive manipulation and navigation within the 3D design space is achieved by visually tracking the tablet PC with a camera and mixed reality markers. For artistic expression using sketch input, we improve upon the projective 3D sketching approach with a one stroke sketch plane definition technique. This coupled with the hardware setup produces a natural and fluid sketching experience.

Napkin sketch: handheld mixed reality 3D sketching

We present a new technique for human-robot interaction called robot expressionism through cartooning. We suggest that robots utilise cartoon-art techniques such as simplified and exaggerated facial expressions, stylised text, and icons for intuitive social interaction with humans. We discuss practical mixed reality solutions that allow robots to augment themselves or their surroundings with cartoon art content. Our effort is part of what we call robot expressionism, a conceptual approach to the design and analysis of robotic interfaces that focuses on providing intuitive insight into robotic states as well as the artistic quality of interaction. Our paper discusses a variety of ways that allow robots to use cartoon art and details a test bed design, implementation, and exploratory evaluation. We describe our test bed, Jeeves, which uses a Roomba, an iRobot vacuum cleaner robot, and a mixed-reality system as a platform for rapid prototyping of cartoon-art interfaces. Finally, we present a set of interaction content scenarios which use the Jeeves prototype: trash Roomba, the recycle police, and clean tracks, as well as initial exploratory evaluation of our approach.

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Robot expressionism through cartooning

Some of the acute technological challenges of the near future may relate to the coexistence of intelligent robots and humans. Robotic technology is quickly advancing and some believe that this rapid progress will have a huge effect on people and societies in the coming few decades (Moravec, 1999). Norman (Norman, 2004) suggests that we are already surrounded by simple robots, such as computerised dishwashers and cars. However, these devices still lack the capability and intelligence required for us to recognize them as “robots”. Forlizzi and Disalvo (Forlizzi & Disalvo, 2006) demonstrated that even the introduction of the simple, popular and almost ubiquitous Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner had raised important human-robot interaction (HRI) questions, and changed social structures and patterns within domestic environments. Following, it is crucial that we understand the various issues and problems surrounding interaction with robots and be able to design effective interfaces that will allow us to work collaboratively with robotic interfaces.

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Playing Games with Robots - A Method for Evaluating Human-Robot Interaction

This paper presents an experimental test bed for exploring and evaluating human-robot interaction (HRI). Our system is designed around the concept of playing board games involving collaboration between humans and robots in a shared physical environment. Unlike the classic human-versusmachine situation often established in computer-based board games, our test bed takes advantage of the rich interaction opportunities that arise when humans and robots play collaboratively as a team. To facilitate interaction within a shared physical environment, our game is played on a large checkerboard where human and robotic players can be situated and play as game pieces. With meaningful interaction occurring within this controlled setup, various aspects of human-robot interaction can be easily explored and evaluated such as interaction methods and robot behaviour. In this paper we present our test bed which uses a telepresence interface for playing the game and the results of a user study demonstrating the sensitivity of our system in assessing the effect of different robot behaviours on users.

/pdf/exploring-human-robot-interaction-through-telepresence-board-111p7d2h7r.pdf

Exploring human-robot interaction through telepresence board games

This paper presents a dynamic experimental test bed for exploring and evaluating human-robot interaction (HRI). Our system is designed around the concept of playing board games involving collaboration between humans and robots in a shared physical environment. Unlike the classic human-versus-machine situation often established in computer-based board games, our test bed takes advantage of the rich interaction opportunities that arise when humans and robots play collaboratively as a team. To facilitate interaction within a shared physical environment, our game is played on a large checkerboard where human and robotic players can be situated and play as game pieces within the game. With meaningful interaction occurring within our confined setup, various aspects of human-robot interaction can be easily explored and evaluated such as interface methods. We also present the results of a user evaluation which shows the sensitivity of our system in assessing robotic behaviours.

Min Xin

Papers

Napkin sketch: handheld mixed reality 3D sketching

Robot expressionism through cartooning

Playing Games with Robots - A Method for Evaluating Human-Robot Interaction

Exploring human-robot interaction through telepresence board games

Sheep and wolves: test bed for human-robot interaction