Empathic Computing and Human Robot Interaction

Empathic Computing is an emerging research field that aims to use technology to create deeper shared understanding or empathy between people [1]. The field sits at the junction of research in Natural Collaboration, Experience Capture and Implicit Understanding. Technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR), can be combined with the sensing of human physiological signals to create new types of collaborative experiences. For example, Empathy Glasses [2] use gaze- and face-tracking to share non-verbal communication cues and enhance remote collaborative. More complex tools, such as EEG, can measure brain activity synchronization and physiological states not normally perceived by humans [3]. This talk explores how lessons learned from Empathic Computing can be applied to field of Human Robot Interaction. Previous research has shown how humans can develop empathy for robots [4], and how robots can be used as telepresence surrogates for real people [5]. This shows that there is great potential to create robot mediated Empathic Computing experiences to enhance face to face and remote collaboration. CCS CONCEPTS .Human-centered computing . Collaborative and socialcomputing.