The Evolving Design of a Socially Therapeutic Robotic Dog*

Abstract

This paper presents data from an exploratory user design evaluation of Therabot™, a robotic support companion in the form of a stuffed animal dog and discusses how these findings fit into the larger design process of a therapeutic platform with a focus on implications that may extend to similar platforms. While prior investigations have guided the robot’s technical development, in this work participants wore physiological sensors while engaging in an interview similar to cognitive behavioral therapy followed by an interactive design evaluation of the robot. Physiological measures of heart and respiration rate data were collected during the interactions with the robot. Participants holding the robot during their interview experienced a significant reduction in heart rate compared to those not holding the robot. The evaluations from the 32 participants in the study highlighted platform-specific refinements, characterized essential attributes of aliveness in animal-like companion robots, and emphasized the importance of privacy in the design of personal robots, especially for companionship and therapeutic applications.