Robots as Social Mediators: Field Trials with Children with Special Needs

Abstract

In this paper we present the design and evaluation process of the socially interactive robot Iromec, used in educational/therapeutic settings to support and stimulate play activities in disabled children. In particular the paper reports some results of the field trials conducted in two primary schools in Siena (Italy) and discusses the implications for the design of socially interactive robots so that they can provide a full rich experience to the human user.