Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

“Space Agency”: A “Strong Concept” for Designing Socially Interactive, Robotic Environments

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Social Robotics (ICSR 2021)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 13086))

Included in the following conference series:

Abstract

What if our surrounding built environment could understand our emotions, predict our needs, and otherwise assist us, both physically and socially? What if we could interact with private and public spaces as if these were our friends, partners, and companions — “Space Agents”? “Space Agents” are here defined as robotic, smart built environments designed to be perceived or interacted with as socially intelligent agents. In this paper, we consider Space Agency both as a “Strong Concept” (a category of generative, intermediate-level design knowledge), and as a new research field of “socially interactive smart built environment” for Social Robotics, HAI, and HCI communities. “Space Agency” is considered with respect to previous empirical and theoretical works of HCI and Architecture and also by our own recent work on a socially adaptive wall. We conclude this paper by advancing the generalizability, novelty, and substantivity of “Space Agency” as a Strong Concept, abstracted beyond specific design instances which designers and researchers, in turn, can use to ideate and generate new design instances of social robots.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Cassell, J.: Embodied conversational agents - representation and intelligence in user interfaces. AI Mag. 22, 67 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Fong, T., Nourbakhsh, I., Dautenhahn, K.: A survey of socially interactive robots. Robot. Auton. Syst. 42, 143–166 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1016/s0921-8890(02)00372-x

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  3. Deng, E., Mutlu, B., Mataric, M.J.: Embodiment in Socially Interactive Robots (2019). https://doi.org/10.1561/9781680835472

  4. Kumar, T., Mani, M.: Discerning occupant psychosocial behaviour in smart built environment and its design. In: Proceedings of the 1st ACM International Workshop on Urban Building Energy Sensing, Controls, Big Data Analysis, and Visualization (2019). https://doi.org/10.1145/3363459.3363534

  5. Höök, K., Löwgren, J.: Strong concepts: intermediate-level knowledge in interaction design research. ACM Trans. Comput.-Hum. Interact. 19, 1–18 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1145/2362364.2362371

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Gaver, B., Bowers, J.: Annotated portfolios. Interactions 19, 40–49 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1145/2212877.2212889

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Löwgren, J.: Annotated portfolios and other forms of intermediate-level knowledge. Interactions 20, 30–34 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1145/2405716.2405725

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Wang, Y., Green, K.E.: A pattern-based, design framework for designing collaborative environments. In: Proceedings of the Thirteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (2019). https://doi.org/10.1145/3294109.3295652

  9. Wang, Y., Green, K.E., Grupen, R., et al.: Designing intelligent spaces as if they were human: a “Space Agent” framework. In: 2018 4th International Conference on Universal Village (UV) (2018). https://doi.org/10.1109/uv.2018.8642135

  10. Alavi, H.S., Churchill, E.F., Wiberg, M., et al.: Introduction to human-building interaction (HBI): interfacing HCI with architecture and urban design. ACM Trans. Comput.-Hum. Interact. 26, 1 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1145/3309714

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Vinot, J.-L., Conversy, S.: Concept of continuity, a “strong concept” to design graphical architecture of interactive systems. In: Proceedings of the 27th Conference on l’Interaction Homme-Machine (2015). https://doi.org/10.1145/2820619.2820634

  12. Isbister, K., Abe, K., Karlesky, M.: Interdependent wearables (for play): a strong concept for design. In: Proceedings of the 2017 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (2017). https://doi.org/10.1145/3025453.3025939

  13. Green, K.E.: Architectural Robotics: Ecosystems of Bits, Bytes, and Biology. MIT Press, Cambridge (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Threatt, A.L., Merino, J., Green, K.E., et al.: An assistive robotic table for older and post-stroke adults: results from participatory design and evaluation activities with clinical staff. Proc. SIGCHI Conf. Hum. Fact. Comput. Syst. (2014). https://doi.org/10.1145/2556288.2557333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Houayek, H., Green, K.E., Gugerty, L., Walker, I.D., Witte, J.: AWE: an animated work environment for working with physical and digital tools and artifacts. Pers. Ubiquit. Comput. 18(5), 1227–1241 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00779-013-0731-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Schafer, G.J., Fullerton, S.K., Walker, I., et al.: Words become worlds: the LIT ROOM, a literacy support tool at room-scale. In: Proceedings of the 2018 Designing Interactive Systems Conference (2018). https://doi.org/10.1145/3196709.3196728

  17. Nguyen, B.V., Simeone, A.L., Vande Moere, A.: Exploring an architectural framework for human-building interaction via a semi-immersive cross-reality methodology. In: Proceedings of the 2021 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (2021). https://doi.org/10.1145/3434073.3444643

  18. Jäger, N., Schnädelbach, H., Hale, J., Kirk, D., Glover, K.: WABI: facilitating synchrony between inhabitants of adaptive architecture. In: Schnädelbach, H., Kirk, D. (eds.) People, Personal Data and the Built Environment. SSAE, pp. 41–75. Springer, Cham (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-70875-1_3

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  19. Grönvall, E., Kinch, S., Petersen, M.G., Rasmussen, M.K.: Causing commotion with a shape-changing bench - experiencing shape-changing interfaces in use. Proc. SIGCHI Conf. Hum. Fact. Comput. Syst. (2014). https://doi.org/10.1145/2556288.2557360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Suzuki, R., Nakayama, R., Liu, D., et al.: LiftTiles. In: Proceedings of the Fourteenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (2020). https://doi.org/10.1145/3374920.3374941

  21. Agnihotri, A., Knight, H. Persuasive ChairBots: a (mostly) robot-recruited experiment. In: 2019 28th IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN) (2019). https://doi.org/10.1109/ro-man46459.2019.8956262

  22. Sirkin, D., Mok, B., Yang, S., Ju, W.: Mechanical Ottoman: how robotic furniture offers and withdraws support. In: Proceedings of the Tenth Annual ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (2015). https://doi.org/10.1145/2696454.2696461

  23. Ju, W., Takayama, L.: Approachability: how people interpret automatic door movement as gesture (2009)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Dennett, D.C.: The Intentional Stance. MIT Press, Cambridge (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Osawa, H., Imai, M.: Morphing agency: deconstruction of an agent with transformative agential triggers. In: CHI 2013 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems on - CHI EA 2013 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1145/2468356.2468745

  26. Dautenhahn, K.: From embodied to socially embedded agents—implications for interactionaware robots. Adapt. Behav. 7, 3–4 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Corbusier, L.: Towards a New Architecture. Courier Corporation, Chelmsford (1927)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Pask, G.: The Architectural Relevance of Cybernetics (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Mitchel, W.J.: City of Bits: Space, Palace and the Infobahn. MIT Press, Boston (1997)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Hoffman, G., Ju, W.: Designing robots with movement in mind. J. Hum.-Robot Interact. 3, 89 (2014). https://doi.org/10.5898/jhri.3.1.hoffman

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Hemmert, F., Löwe, M., Wohlauf, A., Joost, G.: Animate mobiles: proxemically reactive posture actuation as a means of relational interaction with mobile phones. In: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Tangible, Embedded and Embodied Interaction - TEI 2013 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1145/2460625.2460669

  32. Pedersen, E.W., Subramanian, S., Hornbæk, K.: Is my phone alive? A large-scale study of shape change in handheld devices using videos. In: Proceedings of the SIGCHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (2014). https://doi.org/10.1145/2556288.2557018

  33. Wang, Y., Guimbretiere, F., Green, K.E.: Are space-making robots, agents? Investigations on user perception of an embedded robotic surface. In: 2020 29th IEEE International Conference on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN) (2020). https://doi.org/10.1109/ro-man47096.2020.9223532

  34. Sirohi, R., Wang, Y., Hollenberg, S., et al.: Design and characterization of a novel, continuum-robot surface for the human environment. In: 2019 IEEE 15th International Conference on Automation Science and Engineering (CASE) (2019). https://doi.org/10.1109/coase.2019.8842988

  35. Dow, S., Lee, J., Oezbek, C., et al.: Wizard of Oz interfaces for mixed reality applications. In: CHI 2005 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems - CHI 2005 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1145/1056808.1056911

  36. Wang, Y.: Work Environment Experiment 1–1. In: YouTube (2020). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWJ4mJHjfGE. Accessed 27 May 2021

  37. Wang, Y.: Work Environment Experiment 2 2. In: YouTube (2020). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YHPodF0qRc&t=25s. Accessed 27 May 2021

  38. Hoffman, G., Birnbaum, G.E., Vanunu, K., Sass, O., Reis, H.T.: Robot responsiveness to human disclosure affects social impression and appeal. In: Proceedings of the 2014 ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human-Robot Interaction (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Spadafora, M., Chahuneau, V., Martelaro, N., Sirkin, D., Ju, W.: Designing the behavior of interactive objects. In: Proceedings of the TEI 2016: Tenth International Conference on Tangible, Embedded, and Embodied Interaction (2016)

    Google Scholar 

  40. Mok, B.K.-J., Yang, S., Sirkin, D., Ju, W.: A place for every tool and every tool in its place: Performing collaborative tasks with interactive robotic drawers. In: 2015 24th IEEE International Symposium on Robot and Human Interactive Communication (RO-MAN) (2015)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Field: Smart Built Environment and Human Robot Interaction, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), 8 Somapah Rd, Singapore, 487372, Singapore

    Yixiao Wang

  2. Research Field: Architectural Robotics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA

    Keith Evan Green

Authors
  1. Yixiao Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Keith Evan Green
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yixiao Wang .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronic and Communication Engineering, National University of Singapore, Faculty of Engineering, Singapore, Singapore

    Haizhou Li

  2. The National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Shuzhi Sam Ge

  3. A*STAR Institute for Infocomm Research, Singapore, Singapore

    Yan Wu

  4. Center for Human Technologies, Istituto Italiano Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy

    Agnieszka Wykowska

  5. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Wichita State University, Wichita, KS, USA

    Hongsheng He

  6. Qingdao University, Qingdao, China

    Xiaorui Liu

  7. School of Cyber Science and Technology, Beihang University, Beijing, Beijing, China

    Dongyu Li

  8. Social Cognition Human-Robot Interaction, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genoa, Italy

    Jairo Perez-Osorio

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this paper

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this paper

Wang, Y., Green, K.E. (2021). “Space Agency”: A “Strong Concept” for Designing Socially Interactive, Robotic Environments. In: Li, H., et al. Social Robotics. ICSR 2021. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 13086. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90525-5_25

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-90525-5_25

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-90524-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-90525-5

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation