Touch versus In-Air Hand Gestures: Evaluating the Acceptance by Seniors of Human-Robot Interaction

Do elderly people have a preference between performing in-air gestures or pressing screen buttons to interact with an assistive robot? This study attempts to provide answers to this question by measuring the level of acceptance, performance as well as knowledge of both interaction modalities during a scenario where elderly participants interacted with an assistive robot. Two interaction modalities were compared; in-air gestures and touch. A scenario has been chosen in which the elderly people perform exercises in order to improve lifestyle behavior. The seniors in this scenario stand in front of the assistive robot. The robot displays several exercises on the robot screen. After each successfully performed exercise the senior navigates to the next or previous exercise. No significant differences were found between the interaction modalities on the technology acceptance measures on effort, ease, anxiety, performance and attitude. The results on these measures were very high for both interaction modalities, indicating that both modalities were accepted by the elderly people. In a final interview participants reacted more positive on the use of in-air gestures.