How do you play with a robotic toy animal?: a long-term study of Pleo

Pleo is one of the more advanced interactive toys currently available for the home market, taking the form of a robotic dinosaur. We present an exploratory study of how it was interacted with and reflected upon in the homes of six families during 2 to 10 months. Our analysis emphasizes a discrepancy between the participants initial desires to borrow a Pleo and what they reported later on about their actual experiences. Further, the data suggests an apparent tension between participants expecting the robot to work as a ,,toy while making consistent comparisons with real pet animals. We end by discussing a series of implications for design of this category of toys, in order to better maintain interest and engagement over time. Categories and Subject Descriptors I.2.9 Robotics (Commercial robots and applications) K.4.2 Social Issues General Terms Design, Human Factors Keywords Pleo, robotic toys, robot, home, children, long-term

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2010
• Where: ACMIDC
• Authors: Ylva Fernaeus, Maria Håkansson, Mattias Jacobsson, Sara Ljungblad
• Keywords: ACMIDC 2010, Advanced Interactive Toys, Human Computer Interaction, Participants Initial Desires, Pleo