用自然回应提升机器人亲和力，助力老人防认知衰退。
Robotic Backchanneling in Online Conversation Facilitation: A Cross-Generational Study
- 让机器人模仿人类对话中的自然回应（backchannelling）
- 老年参与者对机器人产生非语言回应，互动更自然
- 年轻与老年群体均认为带回应的机器人更可信、更易接受
日本面临老龄化带来的诸多挑战，包括人口认知能力下降及照护人员短缺。已有研究开始探索利用人工智能，特别是具备社交形态的智能代理与机器人进行人际沟通。然而，关于这些代理在不同日常情境中与老年人的适配性仍缺乏研究。为此，我们开展了一项用户研究，评估一款作为团体对话引导者的机器人，该对话协议旨在预防认知衰退。我们对机器人进行了改进，使其采用后反馈（backchannelling）——一种自然的人类交流方式——以增强其亲和力与对话体验愉悦度。研究采用跨代际设计，涵盖青年与老年参与者。定性分析显示，年轻参与者认为具备后反馈的机器人更具同理心、更值得信赖、更可接受。最终发现，机器人的后反馈行为引发了老年参与者的非语言回应。
原文摘要 · Abstract (English)
Japan faces many challenges related to its aging society, including increasing rates of cognitive decline in the population and a shortage of caregivers. Efforts have begun to explore solutions using artificial intelligence (AI), especially socially embodied intelligent agents and robots that can communicate with people. Yet, there has been little research on the compatibility of these agents with older adults in various everyday situations. To this end, we conducted a user study to evaluate a robot that functions as a facilitator for a group conversation protocol designed to prevent cognitive decline. We modified the robot to use backchannelling, a natural human way of speaking, to increase receptiveness of the robot and enjoyment of the group conversation experience. We conducted a cross-generational study with young adults and older adults. Qualitative analyses indicated that younger adults perceived the backchannelling version of the robot as kinder, more trustworthy, and more acceptable than the non-backchannelling robot. Finally, we found that the robot's backchannelling elicited nonverbal backchanneling in older participants.
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