VR Storytelling: Early Explorations of Minimal Social Robots in Virtual Reality

Abstract

Virtual reality (VR) and social robotics have mutual benefits. VR offers a rich instrumented and manipulable environment in which robots and people can physically interact. It also allows for rich visual manipulations of robot materiality and color. On the other hand, social robots provide an opportunity for physically-grounded companion interaction during VR storytelling or gameplay and has a wealth of knowledge about how multimodal communications like motion, proxemics, and touch can inform interaction. This work attempts to intersect these previously disparate areas, eliciting participant storytelling about the simplest possible robot story: a robot that approaches, then bumps into you. In the study, 16 participants experience twelve manifestations of virtual/physical robots that approach and physically bump into them. The moment of collision provides an opportunity for expressive interpretation. The diverse storytelling evoked - particularly in response to variation of apparent robot material - offers a first glimpse into how VR can support explorations of physically embodied robot characters.