Designing Acceptable Robots for Assisting Older Adults: A Pilot Study on the Willingness to Interact

Roberta Bevilacqua, Elisa Felici, Filippo Cavallo, Giulio Amabili and Elvira Maranesi
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Roberta Bevilacqua: IRCCS INRCA Scientific Direction, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Elisa Felici: IRCCS INRCA Scientific Direction, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Filippo Cavallo: Dipartimento Ingegneria Industriale, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50139 Firenze, Italy
Giulio Amabili: IRCCS INRCA Scientific Direction, 60124 Ancona, Italy
Elvira Maranesi: IRCCS INRCA Scientific Direction, 60124 Ancona, Italy

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 20, 1-9

Abstract: The aim of this paper was to explore the psychosocial determinants that lead to acceptability and willingness to interact with a service robot, starting with an analysis of older users’ behaviors toward the Robot-Era platform, in order to provide strategies for the promotion of social assistive robotics. A mixed-method approach was used to collect information on acceptability, usability, and human–robot interaction, by analyzing nonverbal behaviors, emotional expressions, and verbal communication. The study involved 35 older adults. Twenty-two were women and thirteen were men, aged 73.8 (±6) years old. Video interaction analysis was conducted to capture the users’ gestures, statements, and expressions. A coded scheme was designed on the basis of the literature in the field. Percentages of time and frequency of the selected events are reported. The statements of the users were collected and analyzed. The results of the behavioral analysis reveal a largely positive attitude, inferred from nonverbal clues and nonverbal emotional expressions. The results highlight the need to provide robotic solutions that respect the tasks they offer to the users It is necessary to give older consumers dedicated training in technological literacy to guarantee proper, long-lasting, and successful use.

Keywords: human-robot interaction; older people; technology acceptance; human-centered design; qualitative study; emotional design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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