Mini-Surrogate

Mini-Surrogate: A Lovotics Application

Mini-Surrogate is an application of Lovotics. In this project miniature robots are used as small cute, believable and acceptable surrogates of humans for telecommunication. It examines the parameters fostering the sense of co-presence in mediated interpersonal communication.

Current telecommunication techniques lack the holistic embodied interaction and interface. The feeling of non-mediation can be reinforced in remote interpersonal communication if the interaction is through the whole body and engaging, interactive physical representative of each person is available in close proximity of the other person. The reason is related to the significance of embodiment, anthropomorphism, proximity and enjoyment in fostering the illusion of presence.