ROMEO: Towards the Design of Robot with Haptic Mediation for Remote Conflict

Abstract

The utilization of robotic haptic stimuli in mediating remote conflicts has shown promising potential. Understanding how users figuratively interpret the metaphor of these stimuli in actual conflict scenarios is vital for the informed design of future mediation robots. The primary objective of this research is to delve into these interpretations and their implications. In this paper, we introduce a mediation robot capable of varying its temperature and softness to embody two roles: Avatar, representing one party in a conflict to express emotions and states, and Companion, serving as an emotional companion for the user. Through a study with 30 participants, we aimed to uncover and analyze the figurative explanations provided by users in response to the robot's haptic stimuli during conflict situations. Findings indicate that temperature changes were associated with emotional states like anger (hot) and fear (cold), while softness levels were linked to concepts of rigidity (hard) and flexibility (soft). This exploration allows us to discuss the potential role of robotic haptic mediation in remote conflict, thereby contributing valuable insights for the design of future mediation robots.