情報処理学会 インタラクション2013

招待講演

Interacting with Robots and Nature:
Interaction Patterns as Primitives


Prof. Peter Kahn
Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Washington
http://depts.washington.edu/hints

Abstract

In this presentation, I offer a new design approach that helps create conditions by which we, as a species, can flourish in our relationship with personified computation and nature. The approach builds on the idea of an "interaction pattern," which refers to characterizations of essential features of interaction that are specified abstractly enough such that many different instantiations of the interaction can be uniquely realized. Consider a simple example of an interaction pattern between humans when we are introduced to a new person. We might shake hands, say "hi," exchange our names, and engage in a little chit-chat about the weather. Depending on our culture, instead of a handshake, it might be bow or a Namaste greeting. We can call this universal social activity an "Introduction." The Introduction facilitates further social interaction. While the Introduction is never enacted exactly the same way twice, the activity is structured; it follows a recognizable pattern. And this pattern is but one of many that can be used to help structure interaction design.

Robovie photo with a child

In this talk, I will show video data from my lab's collaborative research where we have used interaction patterns to engage people in increasingly rich social and moral relationships with a humanoid robot (ATR's Robovie). Then, drawing also on my long-standing work on the importance of nature in human lives, I extend this interaction pattern approach to our interactions with the natural world. Taking both strands together, I'm seeking a vision of interaction design that allows us to flourish as a technological species while deepening our relationship with nature.