Persistent Lexical Entrainment in HRI

Posted by Christoph Bartneck on Mar 7, 2017 in Research | 0 comments

Jürgen presented our paper on “Persistent Lexical Entrainment in HRI”. The full paper is available at the ACM Digital Library.

Here is the abstract of the paper:

In this study, we set out to ask three questions. First, does lexical entrainment with a robot interlocutor persist after an interaction? Second, how does the influence of social robots on humans compare with the influence of humans on each other? Finally, what role is played by personality traits in lexical entrainment to robots, and how does this compare with the role of personality in entrainment to other humans? Our experiment shows that first, robots can indeed prompt lexical entrainment that persists after an interaction is over. This finding is interesting since it demonstrates that speakers can be linguistically influenced by a robot, in a way that is not merely motivated by a desire to be understood. Second, we find similarities between lexical entrainment to the robot peer and lexical entrainment to a human peer, although the effects are stronger when the peer is human. Third, we find that whether the peer is a robot or a human, similar personality traits contribute to lexical entrainment. In both peer conditions, participants who score higher on “Openness to experience” are more likely to adopt less conventional terminology.

Boston Dynamics Show Rolling and Walking Robot

Posted by Christoph Bartneck on Feb 28, 2017 in Research | 0 comments

Back in 2010 we conducted a little study that investigate if social robots walk or roll. Turns out that you can have the best of both worlds. Boston Dynamics introduced the Handle robot that rolls, walks and even jumps. Pretty amazing.

Velvet Pure Scam

Posted by Christoph Bartneck on Jan 25, 2017 in Research | 0 comments

I probably receive an average amount of spam in my email inbox but also through my regular mail. This week I received a peculiar brochure in my post box advertising health products from a company called “Velvet Pure“:

The promises made in it are just as outrageous as lipstick that this gentleman put on. To make things even more interesting, their website makes some very interesting claims for their Athletic Capsules:

Stand for 50 Minifigures

Posted by Christoph Bartneck on Jan 22, 2017 in LEGO | 0 comments

I created a small stand for displaying up to 50 Minifigures. It is lightweight but still very stable. It takes advantage of the original collectible minifigures plates. The coloring can be adjusted to your needs. The coloring  displayed matches the “The Simpsons” theme. The 3D file is available for Stud.io. and the MOC is also listed at Rebrickable.

Invited Talk at the 2nd Joint UAE Symposium on Social Robotics

Posted by Christoph Bartneck on Nov 28, 2016 in Research | 0 comments

I gave an invited talk at the 2nd Joint UAE Symposium on Social Robotics on November 21st 2016. It was a great event and I was honored to have the opportunity to address the esteemed audience.

Revisiting 8230 Coastal Police Buggy – Stud.io Review

Posted by Christoph Bartneck on Nov 27, 2016 in Design, Featured, LEGO | 2 comments

Back in 1996 I created 3D animated building instructions for the set 8230 Coasatal Policy Buggy. It was part of an internship at a 3D Company and it took me months to model every brick and to animate the whole model. Below is a rendering that took half a day to render. Twenty years later it is time to build this model again. Not with LEGO Digital Designer (LDD), but with Stud.io, the latest addition to virtual LEGO editors. Stud.io is currently a closed beta and the makers of Bricklink sign responsible for its development.

All my t-shirt designs are now available on Threadless

Posted by Christoph Bartneck on Nov 24, 2016 in Uncategorized | 0 comments

I uploaded all my t-shirt designs to Threadless where you can purchase them. Have a look for the specials.