Investigation of the Impression of Storytelling with Robots to Multiple Children

Abstract

The effects of using multiple robots-a reader robot and a listener robot as a side-participant-for group interaction in storytelling to children are addressed. We developed a storytelling system consisting of a reader robot, a listener robot, a display, gaze models of both robots, a depth sensor, and a human operator who gives correct and comprehensible responses to children's questions. In the case of storytelling to two children, we examined whether the children enjoyed the storytelling and the impression of parents who observed the experiments. Experimental results showed that children enjoyed the storytelling through our system and parents conveyed a good impression.