Human responses to an expressive robot

J. Nadel, M. Simon, P. Canet, R. Soussignan, P. Blancard, Lola Cañamero, P. Gaussier

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

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    Abstract

    This paper reports the results of the first study comparing subjects’ responses to robotic emotional facial displays and human emotional facial displays.
    It describes step by step the building of believable emotional expressions in a robotic head, the problems raised by a comparative approach of robotic and human expressions, and the solutions found in order to ensure
    a valid comparison. Twenty adults and 15 children aged 3 were presented static (photos) and dynamic (2-D videoclips, or 3-D live) displays of emotional
    expressions presented by a robot or a person.
    The study compares two dependent variables: emotional resonance (automatic facial feed-back during an emotional display) and emotion recognition
    (emotion labeling) according to partners (robot or person) and to the nature of the display (static or dynamic). Results for emotional resonance were similar
    with young children and with adults. Both groups resonated significantly more to dynamic displays than to static displays, be they robotic expressions or human
    expressions. In both groups, emotion recognition was easier for human expressions than for robotic ones.
    Unlike children that recognized more easily emotional expressions dynamically displayed, adults scored higher with static displays thus reflecting a cognitive
    strategy independent from emotional resonance.
    Results are discussed in the perspective of the therapeutic use of this comparative approach with children with autism that are described as impaired in
    emotion sharing and communication.
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationProcs of the Sixth International Workshop on Epigenetic Robotics
    PublisherLund University
    Pages79-86
    ISBN (Print)91-974741-6-9
    Publication statusPublished - 2006

    Publication series

    NameLund University Cognitive Studies
    Volume128

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