Mutual Shaping in the Design of Socially Assistive Robots: A Case Study on Social Robots for Therapy
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Mutual Shaping in the Design of Socially Assistive Robots: A Case Study on Social Robots for Therapy Katie Winkle1
· Praminda Caleb-Solly1 · Ailie Turton2 · Paul Bremner1
Accepted: 15 February 2019 © The Author(s) 2019
Abstract This paper offers a case study in undertaking a mutual shaping approach to the design of socially assistive robots. We consider the use of social robots in therapy, and we present our results regarding this application, but the approach is generalisable. Our methodology combines elements of user-centered and participatory design with a focus on mutual learning. We present it in full alongside a more general guide for application to other areas. This approach led to valuable results concerning mutual shaping effects and societal factors regarding the use of such robots early in the design process. We also measured a significant shift in participant robot acceptance pre-/post-study, demonstrating that our approach led to the two-way sharing and shaping of knowledge, ideas and acceptance. Keywords Socially assistive robots · Robots in therapy · Robot acceptance · Design methods · Qualitative research methods
1 Introduction Socially assistive robots (SARs) can be defined as those which provide assistance through social interaction alongside or instead of physical aid [9]. Researchers are increasingly exploring the use of such robots in the domains of healthcare and independent living (e.g. [18,21,25,26]). Research in these areas has shown that SARs can have an impact on enjoyment and engagement with health and wellbeing related exercises (e.g. [13,16,32,35]). We propose the use of a social robot to motivate and engage with rehabilitative therapy patients, and are working to identify the social cues and behaviours Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-019-00536-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Katie Winkle [email protected] Praminda Caleb-Solly [email protected] Ailie Turton [email protected] Paul Bremner [email protected]
1
Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Bristol, UK
2
Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK
such a robot should employ to enhance adherence to therapy. Low adherence to self-directed elements of therapeutic programmes is a known issue (e.g. [11,27,38]) and we believe that SARs could be useful in supporting these elements in order to improve it. Successful development and deployment of such robots requires, during the design stage, significant consideration of the social context into which they will be deployed. Robot use will influence, and be influenced, by this context. The general concept of technology and society influencing each other in parallel this way can be termed ‘mutual shaping’ [28]. We explored two forms of mutual shaping in a qualitative study with therapists as follows: 1. By working with the therapists to explore how deployment of SARs could change therapy delivery and influenc
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