Evaluation of a Mobile Robotic Telepresence System in a One-on-One Meeting Scenario

Abstract

Despite the increased popularity and availability of mobile robotic telepresence systems during the last years, there has been little research that systematically compares these systems against more traditional systems, such as teleconference systems. In this work, we present a 40 person user study in a simulated one-on-one meeting scenario. In a between-subject design participants performed the Desert Survival Task with an unknown examiner's confederate either calling in using a conventional phone or beaming in using Beam system from Suitable Technologies [1]. In the study we also simulated a typical meeting disturbance. Several aspects of the discussion's effectiveness were assessed (e.g. connectivity, disturbance, problem solving, ease of collaboration) by using questionnaires as well as video observations. Our findings consistently corroborated a significantly more effective, natural and likeable interaction by using Beam. Though our scenario is real and a true pain point of many large corporations further studies will need to be carried out comparing such telepresence system to video conference systems.