Theory of Companions: What Can Theoretical Models Contribute to Applications and Understanding of Human-Robot Interaction?

Because it becomes more and more feasible that artificial entities like robots or agents will soon be parts of our daily lives, an essential challenge is to advance the sociability of artifacts. Against this background, a pivotal goal of the Sera project was to develop a theoretical framework for sociable companions as well as for human-artifact interaction. In discussing several levels of sociability from a theoretical point of view, we will critically reflect whether human-companion interaction has to build on basic principles of human-human interaction. Alternative approaches are presented. It is discussed whether a “theory of companions” is necessary and useful and what it should be able to explain and contribute.