Accessible Parallel Embodiment of Multiple Robotic Avatars in a Cafe

Author

Barbareschi, Giulia and Kawaguchi, Midori and Kato, Hiroaki and Takeuchi, Kazuaki and Nagahiro, Masato and Shiiba, Yoshifumi and Ory, Yoshifuji and Yoshifuji, Kentaro and Kasahara, Shunichi and Minamizawa, Kouta

Abstract

Novel technological systems enabling people to control multiple robotic avatars simultaneously could support more accessible ways to multitask. An implementation of a parallel avatar system in a cafe shows that, leveraging their existing skills, remote workers with disabilities were able to utilize the system to control up to four robots, each with a different function, to assist customers in a cafe. The parallel avatar systems expand the agency and the capabilities of disabled workers, while also delivering better experiences to customers.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1145/3571300