Core Elements of Social Interaction for Constructive Human-Robot Interaction

Abstract

We present a discovery-based, first version, explicit model of social interaction that provides a basis for measuring the quality of interaction of a human user with a social robot. The two core elements of the social interaction model are engagement and co-regulation. Engagement emphasizes the \textit{qualitative nature} of social interaction and the fact that a user needs to be drawn into the interaction with the robot. Co-regulation emphasizes the interaction process and the fact that a user and a robot need to be acting together. We argue that the quality of social interaction with a robot can be measured in terms of how efficiently engagement and co-regulation are established and maintained during the interaction and how satisfied the user is with the interaction.

Quality of Interaction in Socially Assistive Robots (QISAR) Workshop at International Conference on Social Robotics (ICSR19) - Madrid, Spain, November 26-29, 2019