Elders prefer female robots with a high degree of human likeness

Abstract

Elders' acceptance of robots is still a novel field and a clear research methodology to assess users' preferences has not yet been developed. The exploitation of robots, as assistive technologies, requires the properly identification of users' needs and expectations and the matching of robot's role, appearance, and behavior to these needs. Robot's degree of resemblance to humans may play a fundamental role on their acceptance into domestic spheres. The present paper investigates elders' preferences towards female robots showing different levels of human likeness (two androids and a humanoid robot are involved in the study) considering their pragmatic, hedonic and attractive dimensions, as well as occupations elders entrusted to robots. A total of 51 elders (29 females) aged 65+ years were recruited. Participants were asked to watch video clips showing three speaking female manufactured robots (Erica, Sophia, and Pepper) and after each video clip, the Robot Appearance Questionnaire (RAQ) was administered. The results highlight that the degree of robot's human likeness affects elders' preferences in favor of android robots. Elders expressed a clear preference for female android rather than humanoid robots, in contrast with the current trend observed in literature. In addition, female robots were considered more suitable in performing housework rather than protection/security, healthcare, and front office occupations