Demonstrating TactorBots: A Haptic Design Toolkit for Exploration of Emotional Robotic Touch

Abstract

Emerging research has demonstrated the viability of emotional communication through haptic technology inspired by interpersonal touch. However, the meaning-making of artificial touch remains ambiguous and contextual. We see this ambiguity caused by robotic touch's "otherness"as an opportunity for exploring alternatives. To empower designers to explore emotional robotic touch, we devise TactorBots. It contains eight plug-and-play wearable tactor modules that render a series of social gestures driven by servo motors. Our specialized web GUI allows easy control, modification, and storage of tactile patterns to support fast prototyping. Taking emotional haptics as a "design canvas"with broad opportunities, TactorBots is the first "playground"for designers to try out various tactile sensations, feel around the nuanced connection between touches and emotions, and come up with creative imaginations.