Reciprocal-adaptation in a creature-based futuristic sociable dining table

Abstract

In this paper, a creature-based futuristic sociable dining table is proposed that communicates through a knock on a table. The main objective was to create a minimal number of cues for protocol communication for the purpose of establishing social interactions between a creature and a human. The creature uses a knock (within a specific period) with a Temporal Difference (TD) learning model to learn and to adapt to a user's intentions, and the creature moves a different direction (right, left, straight, and back) on a table based on the user's knock. By ascertaining the creatures' behaviors, the user can convey his/her intentions by a number of knocking sounds while looking at the creature adaption. The creature is capable of doing mutually adaptive learning through a TD model in real time to satisfy the user's goal or intentions. In the context of the experimental results, we discuss the concept of creatures and indicate the effectiveness of the communication-protocol with the “knocking” interface for reciprocal adaptations.