The Magic Circle of Human-Robot Interaction: The Impact of Design and Context on The Perception of Humanoids
Abstract: The concept of the “magic circle of immersion” describes the boundary that an individual enters when they agree to engage with a game, narrative, or performance. Within this theoretical/metaphorical space, participants suspend disbelief, accept new rules, and are more open to emotionally invest in the experience. Ensuring a human-centric approach to social robot design means that immersion can be leveraged to increase user comfort and trust while enhancing the robot’s effectiveness in accomplishing its designated tasks. As social robots continue to emerge and gain prevalence within our everyday lives, considering the user’s experience is crucial. This research shows that the magic circle concept can be applied to humanoid robots and animatronic systems, and by extension, that a robot’s design functions as an entry point into this circle of social engagement. Utilizing principles of psychology, game design, and themed entertainment, a set of criteria was established for determining where a robot lies relative to the boundary. To test this framework, several comparative studies were conducted to examine how robots with identical conversational tasks, but varying levels of immersion, can impact a user’s perception and their preferences. This evaluation was conducted on both children and adults in order to identify differences in perceptivity, sensitivity, and immersion tendencies across age groups. The impact of this study and its findings will inform the designs of assistive, healthcare, entertainment, and educational robots while providing a roadmap for socially informed robot design.
Advisor: Professor Fiona Yuan
Committee: Professor Jane Li, Professor Erin Ottmar