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Analysing Interactive Competencies 119

actions and evaluate the robot’s interactive skills we developed a quantitative
method of analysing robot-human interactions, based on a method used previ-
2
ously to analyse child-adult interactions .
This section describes the analysis of robot-human interactions in a compar-
ative study where seven children interact separately with the mobile robot and
3
a non-interactive toy . Trials are conducted in three sections. The first section
involves the child interacting with a toy truck, approximately the same size as
the robotic platform. The second section consists of both the toy truck and
the robotic platform present simultaneously whereby the robot is switched off.
The third section involves the robot without the toy truck, see figure 14.1. In
half the trials the order of the first and last section is reversed. This structure
allows us to compare interactions with the robot with those of a solely passive
object. Timing of the sections vary, typically the first and third section are four
minutes while the second section is two minutes, depending on the enjoyment
of the child.

Figure 14.1. Ivan playing with the toy truck (left) and the robot (right). All names of children
used in this chapter are pseudonyms.

The trial video is segmented into one-second intervals, and each second is
analysed for the presence of various behaviours and actions by the child (after
[14], with criteria altered for our particular application). Trials are analysed
using a set of fourteen criteria, which are broken into two general categories.
The first category consists of the criteria eye gaze, eye contact, operate, han-
dling, touch, approach, move away and attention. This category depends on a
focus of the action or behaviour and this focus further categorises the analy-
sis of the behaviour. The second category consists of the criteria vocalisation,
speech, verbal stereotype, repetition and blank. The focus of these actions are
recorded where possible.
The histogram in figure 14.2 shows a sample of the results of trials using this
analysis method, focused on the criterium eye gaze. As can be seen, the values
for gaze are considerably higher when focused on the robot than the toy truck
for three of the seven children shown (Ivan, Oscar, Peter). Adam looked at the