The Hug: an exploration of robotic form for intimate communication

As advances in robotics create robust technology capable of being deployed in the home, design serves an important role shaping how robots will be experienced in accessible, appropriate, and compelling manners. The designer's task of shaping technology is fundamentally concerned with the creation of form. Form is the total expression of a product, including physical shape, materials, and behavioral qualities. In creating form, design balances the needs of people, the capabilities of technology, and the context of use to support an activity or action. In this paper we present The Hug, a conceptual design exploration of form for a robotic product that facilitates intimate communication across distance. We discuss the role of form in constructing meaningful relationships through The Hug and other robotic products.