Tui as social entity: A study of joint-actuation and turn-taking-actuation in actuated-interfaces

Abstract

We present an actuated-interface that is not only a tangible interface but also an autonomous object, designed as an independent entity that takes a similar role to the user's role in an anagram word game. We highlight two leading interaction paradigms: Turntaking-actuation and Joint-actuation, and evaluate both in a qualitative interaction study with the autonomous actuated-interface. Our fndings reveal that all participants perceived the interaction as a social experience. The diferent interaction paradigms led to diferent interpretations: Turn-taking-actuation was interpreted as a competitive experience, while Joint-actuation was interpreted as a collaborative experience. The interaction paradigms also infuenced the intensity of emotions and perception of control, with Joint-actuation leading to more intense emotions and higher sensitivity to control in the interaction. To conclude, our fndings show that it is possible to design an actuated-interface that users perceive both as a tangible interface and as a social entity with its own intent.