Human-Robot Interaction, Implicit Interaction, Roboethics, Interactive Human-Robot Communication, Non-verbal Communication, Teamwork and Collaboration

Studies suggest that people feel more positively toward robots that work with people rather than those that replace them. This means that in order to create robots that can collaborate and share tasks with humans, human-human interaction dynamics must be understood – key components of which could be replicated in human-robot interaction. Ms. Moon's current research focuses on how simple a non-verbal gesture (like that of jerky hesitant motion of your hand when you and another person reach for the same last piece of chocolate at the same time) can be used to play a role in building a more human-friendly human-robot interaction. This hesitant motion seem to be an effective mechanism in human-human interaction, where one's state of uncertainty is readily made available to another agent. It is these kinds of non-verbal gestures that Ms. Moon is interested in studying within the context of human and robot collaboratively working together in a shared workspace.

Currently, the non-verbal gesture is in the process of being characterised, such that an analogous motion can be implemented onto a robot that will collaboratively work with humans on a shared-task.

There are interesting social and ethical questions that arise from this project: how does the gesture or pattern of gestures by the robot affect human co-worker's attitude towards the robot? (i.e., who gets the chocolate in the end? who yields the chocolate and how does that affect your relationship with the other person?).

Aside: With her background in Philosophy and her current work with the Centre for Applied Ethics at the University of British Columbia, Ms. Moon is also investigating social and ethical implications of robotics from social sciences perspective.