Robotics Augmented Web Conferencing

Facing the growing demand for more engaging and socially interactive remote communication, robotic gestures have emerged as a solution to enhance virtual meetings. While robots have been used in communication before, their role in conveying social presence through gestures like handshakes, waves, fist bumps, and high fives remains underexplored. This study investigates how these gestures, when paired with vocal and visual greetings, influence participant perceptions of comfort, friendliness, and connection in augmented web conferencing. I conducted a pilot study with four participants that explores how participants respond to different robotic gestures. The system was designed ergonomically and safely to support intuitive and natural interactions. Results suggest that gestures that closely mimic natural human movements help build trust and improve the interaction experience. This work contributes to the understanding of robotic social gestures and their practical potential in professional, educational, and remote assistance contexts, offering guidance for future human-robot interaction design.