Developing Robots as Social Companions
From: University of Hertfordshire - 01/20/2006

The University of Hertfordshire's work in human-robot interaction will be a
focus of an upcoming BBC show. Mick Walters, a researcher in the School of
Computer Science, will discuss its efforts to understand what people want in
a robot, such as whether they want a humanoid or a computer on wheels unit,
and how close of a level of interaction with a robot would be appropriate for
the home. The university is part of the integrated European project Cogniron,
which seeks to develop cognitive robot companions. Currently, the university
has a robot operating in a home environment in a nearby house. "We are
studying how a robot can be personal and modified according to people's
different preferences, likes and dislikes," says Kerstin Dautenhahn, a
professor in artificial intelligence who is heading Hertfordshire's efforts.
"We aim to develop personalized robot companions." Social robots could be
used one day to handle tasks such as setting the table, taking out the
garbage, and watching children and pets.  

Read the entire article at:
http://perseus.herts.ac.uk/extrel/press-office/index.cfm?E738CB84-ECCC-519F-7576-C7B0F4C5850A

Links:
Human Robot Interaction and Social Spaces - Research for COGNIRON
http://adapsys.feis.herts.ac.uk/abstracts/walters.txt

Cognitive Robot Companion
http://homepages.feis.herts.ac.uk/~comqkd/HRI-UH.htm

Kerstin Dautenhahn
http://homepages.feis.herts.ac.uk/~comqkd/

Developing Robots as Social Companions
http://www.innovations-report.com/html/reports/studies/report-54124.html
http://www.innovations-report.de/html/berichte/studien/bericht-54124.html

Robot Companions
http://homepages.feis.herts.ac.uk/~comqkd/HRI-AISB05.html