Robot Gossip: Effects of Mode of Robot Communication on Human Perceptions of Robots

With robots becoming more prevalent, it is important to understand human attitudes toward robots not only when humans directly interact with the robots as most research examines, but when robots are performing nonsocial tasks (e.g., cleaning) within sight and hearing of humans. This study examined how presumed robot communication style in such situations of human-robot colocation affects human perceptions of a group of robots. Results suggest that communication style of robots did not affect perceptions of robots, but further studies should use different techniques to manipulate supposed communication style.