Is a Robot better than Video for Initiating Remote Social Connections among Children?

Abstract

Videoconferencing technology is increasingly used in classrooms to introduce children to people from other countries and cultures in order to provide a wider learning experience. However, with traditional screen-based video conferencing technology, research has shown that it is easy for students to miss non-verbal cues that play a key role in developing human relationships. To investigate how children interact differently when their interactions are mediated through screen-based video communication versus robot-mediated communication, we conducted a study with elementary students in Korea, comparing the use of both technologies to introduce classroom students with peer-aged individuals in America. Our findings show that the children displayed more positive emotions during certain tasks and exhibited more interest and intimacy to remote participants in the context of robot-mediated communication than with video-mediated communication.