User experience of human-robot long-term interactions

Since interactions with social robots are novel and exciting for many people, one particular concern in this specific area of human-robot interaction (HRI) is the extent to which human users will experience the interactions positively over time, when the robot's novelty is particularly salient. In the current paper, we investigated users' experience in long-term HRIs;how users perceive the ongoing interactions and the robot's ability to sustain it over time. Therefore, here we examine the effect of the repeated measures (10 testing sessions) and the discussion theme (Covid-19 related vs general) on the way participants experienced the interaction quality with a social robot and perceived the robot's communication competency over time. We found that despite individual differences between the participants, over time participants found the interactions with Pepper to be of higher quality and that Pepper's communication skills got better. Nevertheless, our results also stressed that the discussion theme has no meaningful nor significant effect on the way people perceive Pepper and the interaction. © 2022 ACM.

Voices from Industry Creating Accessible Infographics: Describing Scientific Data in Ways Everyone Can Understand

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrust scientific literature into the global spotlight this year, as information about the virus, how to keep safe, and how to get vaccinated has been continually updated at a rapid pace. Much of this information is being conveyed through infographics. This has resulted in an abundance of easy-to-grasp information for sighted people with no learning disabilities, but this positive impact has not been extended to people with visual or learning disabilities. In effect, these infographics often serve to further marginalize individuals with disabilities. Consistent methods for writing descriptions of images should be developed and implemented by first looking at how information moves from working memory to long-term memory, and then examining how cognitive fatigue can inhibit understanding of complex images and scientific information vital to individuals with disabilities. Considering how best to describe scientific images with concise alternative text and in plain language will have clear and immediate benefits for the health and well-being of those with print-related disabilities. © ATIA 2022.