When kids talk to robots: Enhancing engagement and learning

Conversational robots and virtual characters can enhance learning and expand entertainment options for children, a trio of studies by Disney Research shows, though exactly how these autonomous agents interact with children sometimes depends on a child's age. Pre-school children responding to an on-screen character, for instance, may be happiest if the character simply waits for their responses or repeats a question. Older children talking with a robot, on the other hand, appreciate it when the robot references their previous conversations, while younger children are just as happy if the robot treats each conversation as a new encounter. "Teasing out these nuances is necessary if we are to make the interactions between automated characters and children as engaging as possible," said Jill Fain Lehman, senior research scientist. Lehman and other staff members of Disney Research will present findings from the three studies at the Interaction Design and Children Conference in Palo Alto, Calif., June 27-30. "Though parent-child interaction remains the most important factor in child development, the prospect of automated characters that can interact with children offers exciting opportunities for further enhancing learning and play," said Markus Gross, vice president at Disney Research.