Capitalizing Users as Innovators with regards to Social Robots

Robots and devices with the ability to do tasks repeatedly were created long ago. However, it took some time for social robots to actually materialize. The fact that we expect machines and robots to adapt to the changing dynamics of our living and working spaces is one important factor in this. We don't want to add to our workload by having to give them constant orders. Instead, we want them to be able to comprehend basic cues and use their minds similarly to other people. Consider the example of our kitchen. We anticipate that a social robot we use to assist us with routine kitchen duties like cooking and cleaning will respond to directions and not require constant direction. It should function as a human helper who can recognize a need and respond appropriately. Furthermore, we want the social robot to exhibit empathy toward the patient when it comes to social robots that are utilized to soothe patients or help with caregiving. The patient should be able to relax and feel at ease because of it. If and when necessary, it needs to be capable of contacting emergencies. When it comes to social robots, emotional intelligence is a critical component. 

Situated Actions 

In their article on contextual inquiry, Beyer and Holtzblatt [2] place emphasis on the significance of context and how it significantly impacts users' perceptions of and responses to a given technology. With regard to social robots, situated actions are crucial. Let's look at an illustration of an experiment where a social robot was incorporated into a workplace [3]. Its primary responsibility was to provide the staff with food. In addition to carrying out his job as instructed during the experiment, the robot also encouraged new

behaviors in the workers, such as social companionship, protection, and politeness. Through this instance, we can comprehend how, depending on the environment a robot is embedded in, humans interact with them. Perhaps the workers wouldn't like bonding with the robot as much if it were placed in their house. The findings of this study demonstrate how a robot designed to perform specific tasks can also act socially. In this instance, it led to new employee behaviors. Once more, we must consider the emotional components of social robots and how to integrate them into the environment. 

The concept of "Mutual Intelligibility" in this context refers to how humans and robots communicate and understand one another. Humans and social robots engage with each other in a way that is tailored to the needs of the time and place in which it is embedded. Earlier attempts to create social robots were successful in performing the required tasks, but because individuals could not relate to the robot, they did not feel comfortable opening up to it and expressing their thoughts. It was just another machine to them, although one with some cutting-edge characteristics. According to multiple studies, only robots that seemed and behaved like people made people feel comfortable sharing their views and expressing their feelings. For instance, if the social robot could make facial expressions and had moving eyes, people would find that more intriguing. Let's use the incredibly straightforward example of a teddy bear. It is merely a simple soft toy; it is not a robot. We can see that the baby pays more attention to and displays interest in the soft toys when we move his hand. Similar to this, little characteristics like gestures, eye movements, body temperature, and material of the robot all contribute significantly to the acceptance of social robots. The patient's level of comfort with the social support robot is crucial in delicate situations like healthcare. These minor supplemental characteristics serve as a highlight in those instances to strengthen the relationship and trust between the patient and the social robot. One such example is "Huggable," a sociable robot for child care [4]. By involving the child in enjoyable activities, it seeks to reduce their tension and anxiety. 

Users as Innovators 

We can infer from the explanation above that a user's reaction to a technology depends on their preconceptions, time, space, and other external factors as well. Regarding social robots, we can see how earlier robots were made to complete straightforward jobs, and as time went on, people's expectations from these robots grew. Many people experimented with novel methods to use the robots by changing minor details of the design to suit their needs. Similar to it Like when features like moving eyes and motions are included. Eventually, we see that these adaptations are recognized as user needs by the designers and they employ these adjustments in their next intervention or iteration of the same

design. If we carefully examine such situations, we can discover that this cycle occurs frequently in the technology sector. Indirectly users are therefore the ones who provide designers with creative ideas. This demonstrates how users might be considered "Innovators." 

Acceptance of Social Robots 

People have a tendency to be wary about utilizing new technologies when they are first offered. Acceptance and trust are crucial for the technology to be successful in categories like social robots, where we strive to integrate a robot into a user's private area. According to a study, it is easier for people to accept and form bonds with robots that have amusing traits in addition to their intended functions [5]. According to the same study, people who think more logically favor robots that strike a balance between sociability and entertainment [5]. We might therefore conclude that the perceptions and situated actions that affect human logical thought also play a role in the acceptability of social robots. 

Let's try to comprehend what happens in the case of patients with Alzheimer's or Dementia based on this conclusion. Patients with these diseases frequently experience anxiety, forgetfulness, and trouble performing routine chores. The ability to reason clearly declines as the condition worsens. Numerous social robots, such as LOVOT (a robot companion) and PARO (a therapeutic robot seal), are made specifically for these people to alleviate their anxiety and loneliness. The spoken commands of these robots may trigger the patients when they first interact with them. This is very likely because research has shown that people with Alzheimer's disease may get aggressive when they hear a strange voice because they perceive a threat. Other people may be harmed by their hostility. But once the patients are on board with the social robot, it's a godsend.