Abstract
We implemented different modes of social gaze behavior in our companion robot, F-2, to evaluate the impression of the gaze behaviors on humans in three symmetric communicative situations: (a) the robot telling a story, (b) the person telling a story to the robot, and (c) both parties communicating about objects in the real world while solving a Tangram puzzle. In all the situations the robot localized the human’s eyes and directed its gaze between the human, the environment, and the object of interest in the problem space (if it existed). We examined the balance between different gaze directions as the novel key element to maintaining a feeling of social connection with the robot in humans. We extended the computer model of the robot in order to simulate realistic gaze behavior in the robot and create the impression of the robot changing its internal cognitive states. Other novel results include the implicit, rather than explicit, character of the robot gaze perception for many of our subjects and the role of individual differences, especially the level of emotional intelligence, in terms of human sensitivity to the robotic gaze. Therefore, in this study, we used an iterative approach, extending the applied cognitive architecture in order to simulate the balance between different behavioral reactions and to test it in the experiments. In such a way, we came to a description of the key behavioral cues that suggest to a person that the particular robot can be perceived as an emotional and even conscious creature.
Highlights
Gaze and speech are the primary cues of attention and intellect of another person.Within personal communication, gaze is the first communicative sign that we encounter, and which conveys information about the mental state, attention, and attitude of our counterpart
We examined the perception of gaze behavior for short periods of direct eye contact, as well as for longer durations of human–robot interactions, in which the robot had to change its gaze direction between several objects of interest in the environment
We consecutively applied the model to three major communicative situations, in which (a) the robot tells a human a story, so the denotatum is represented by the robot; (b) the human has to solve a special puzzle and the robot follows the solution and gives advice—here the denotatum is explicitly represented to both the human and the robot; (c) the robot listens to a story that is being told by the human, and the denotatum here is represented by the human
Summary
Gaze and speech are the primary cues of attention and intellect of another person. Gaze is the first communicative sign that we encounter, and which conveys information about the mental state, attention, and attitude of our counterpart. Behavioral patterns of the eyes, including the eyelids and brows, can be studied and modeled as a symptom of the internal cognitive operations of the subject, or as a communicative cue, exposing to the addressee the internal state of the subject, or intentionally conveying meanings in communication [5]. We used an iterative approach, trying (a) to extend the robot control architecture in order to simulate gaze dynamics, (b) to test the architecture in experiments within typical communicative situations, and (c) to observe the key features—communicative cues or strategies—that have to be included in applied and theoretical architecture in order to make robots’ behavior more reflective from the point of view of a human. Not immediately obvious responses, such as indirect speech acts, may be of particular importance for inducing the feeling that your partner is not an automat
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
