ARM-COMS for Entrainment Effect Enhancement in Remote Communication

Abstract

The remote communication systems allow us to enjoy the benefit of audio/video communication over the network. However, the communications based on these systems pose some open issues, such as lack of tele-presence, lack of entrainment in communication, etc. In order to tackle these issues, this study proposes an idea of remote individuals’ connection through augmented tele-presence systems called ARM-COMS: ARm-supported eMbodied COmmunication Monitor System. ARM-COMS is composed of a tablet PC as an ICT (Information and Communication Technology) device and a desktop robotic arm, which manipulates the tablet. ARM-COMS operates in two types of modes, or intelligent tablet mode (IT-mode) and intelligent avatar mode (IA-mode) to implement the three functions; namely, autonomous positioning (AP), autonomous entrainment movement (AEM), and autonomous entrainment positioning (AEP). This paper presents the basic concept of ARM-COMS and focuses on AEM function to accelerate the entrainment effect in remote communication.