Public Perceptions of the Appropriateness of Robots in Museums and Galleries

Abstract

This research explores the public's perceptions of the appropriateness of the use of robots in museums and galleries. Using data from an international survey of 1589 participants, the data show that the perceived appropriateness of robot implementation in museums and galleries is driven largely by perceptions of the usefulness and emotional skills of robotic technologies, and their perceived advantages compared to human employees. Additionally, the findings suggest that the general attitudes towards service robots in tourism shape the attitudes towards robots in museums and galleries in particular. Furthermore, the findings reveal that the demographic characteristics of visitors are not related to their perceptions of robots in museums and galleries.