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Let's Be Friends: Perception of a Social Robotic Companion for Children with T1DM Host Publication: New Friends: 1st international conference on social robots in therapy and education Authors: H. Sahli, G. Athanasopoulos, G. Patsis, W. Verhelst, I. Kruijff-Korbayova, E. Oleari, C. Pozzi, F. Sacchitelli, A. Bagherzadhalimi, S. Bellini, B. Kiefer, S. Racioppa, A. Coninx, P. Baxter, B. Bierman, O. Blanson Henkemans, M. Neerincx, R. Loije, Y. Demiris, R. Ros Espinoza, M. Mosconi, P. Cosi, R. Humbert, L. Canamero, J. de Greeff, J. Kennedy, R. Read, M. Lewis, A. Hiolle, G. Paci, G. Sommavilla, F. Tesser, A. Sanna and T. Belpaeme Publication Date: Oct. 2015
Abstract: We describe the social characteristics of a robot developed to support children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) in the process of education and care. We evaluated the perception of the robot at a summer camp where diabetic children aged 10ᆢ experienced the robot in group interactions. Children in the intervention condition additionally interacted with it also individually, in one-to-one sessions featuring several game-like activities. These children perceived the robot significantly more as a friend than those in the control group. They also readily engaged with it in dialogues about their habits related to healthy lifestyle as well as personal experiences concerning diabetes. This indicates that the one-on-one interactions added a special quality to the relationship of the children with the robot.
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