Date

2017

Author

Dönmez, Yasemin

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One of the main target groups for social robots is children. There are various robots designed for children under the category of robotic toys, usually designed to look like a pet and interact with children using sensors, a monitor and software component. However, in order to create successful interactions between a child and a robot, there must be a stimulus for children to interact with them. A study was conducted with the aims of identifying the levels of social bonds occurring between the child and robotic toy, and determining the features of a robotic toy that motivate children for interaction. For this end, 14 children participants were observed during play with a robotic toy with two game options. The 14 children were chosen from two different age groups (4-5 year-olds and 8-9 year-olds) to play with a robotic toy in their school. The data was subjected to quantitative and qualitative analyses, revealing the successful and problematic features of the robotic toy and its games, and the types of interaction displayed by the children. The types of interaction were categorized as physical interaction, facial expressions and looking directions, and communication. Among the differences identified between the interactions of the two age groups were durations of interaction, level of engagement with features of the toy, types of physical interaction, guidance and communication requests from the researcher, and the personification of the robotic toy for the younger age group. In the light of these results, a set of suggestions for designing a robotic toy for successful and engaging interactions are made. 

Subject Keywords

Toys., Electronic toys., Mechanical toys., Child psychology., Product design., Industrial design.

URI

http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12621190/index.pdf
https://hdl.handle.net/11511/26370

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis