Gaze Cueing and the Role of Presence in Human-Robot Interaction

Gaze cueing is a fundamental part of social interactions, and broadly studied using Posner task based gaze paradigms. While studies human stimuli consistently yield effect, results from robotic are inconsistent. Typically, these use virtual agents or pictures robots. As previous research has pointed to the significance physical presence in human-robot interaction, it importance understand its yet unexplored role interactions with cues. This paper investigates whether iCub humanoid robot affects strength effect interaction. We exposed 42 participants task. asked react as quickly accurately possible appearance target stimulus that was either congruently incongruently cued by copresent version same robot. Analysis reaction time measurements showed were affected their interaction partner's gaze, independently on way presented. Additional analyses participants' ratings robot's anthropomorphism, animacy likeability further add impression does not play significant simple interactions. Together our findings open up interesting discussions about possibility generalize real life