Exploratory Evaluation of a Tabletop Robot With Older Adults

Over the years, research on interactions between older adults (OAs) and robots suggest that robots can address needs of OAs and are generally well perceived by them. To synchronize user needs with technological capabilities, we follow an iterative and incremental approach: prototypes are showcased to users to collect observations on their interactions with the robots, and the design is refined until suitable interaction scenarios can be implemented before initiating trials over longer periods of time. This paper presents the use of Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to conduct short exploratory studies as part of the robot design process. Surveys and observations gathered before and after the interactions document the interaction experience using metrics such as utility, design, and reliability. Eleven OAs from two long-term care facilities interacted with a tabletop robot we designed. This paper reports on how the interactions were perceived by the OAs, illustrating how CFIR can be used for such type of studies.