User Acceptance of a Mobile LED Projector on a Socially Assistive Robot

A prototype of a LED projector module mounted on and carried by the humanoid robot NAO was iteratively developed in the KSERA project. It offers an additional visual information channel for the users (text, graphic, and video) by being able to come to the user where ever they are. Several mock ups were built to explore advantages and challenges of the mobile projector solution. Ten users, comprising six older persons and four experts from the care domain participated in laboratory tests to explore the user acceptance and expected usefulness. The novel projector solution was also compared with already existing solutions such as stationary screens. It could be shown that the novel solution of the mobile projector was well accepted bringing added value from the points of view of older persons as well as care experts. Challenges remain regarding suitable surfaces needed for projection and the currently limited brightness.