Ambre Davat - Social touch for ubiquitous telepresence robotics : imbrication of physical and social parameters in vocal earshot during interaction

The development of consumer robotics comes with a new kind of telecommunications systems: telepresence robots. These are mobile robots representing a person who is able to control their movements remotely. The aim is not only to allow remote communication, but to create a sense of social and physical presence, which are not sufficiently transmitted by telephone or videoconferencing.  

In this context, it is especially important to ensure that the users’ « social touch » is well transmitted, meaning that they are able to exchange a wide range of socio-affective signals, which are the vectors of social links. In particular, this thesis deals with a key element of social touch, which is deeply impacted by telepresence: vocal earshot, by which speakers are normally able to control who can hear them, and to adapt to varying acoustic environment conditions. 

In a first study, we will explore the link between vocal touch and proxemics, by asking whether a blind listener’s spatial perception of an interlocutor can be influenced by the expressed socio-affects. We will then show that vocal earshot can be modified by the Lombard effect in ubiquitous telepresence, because the pilot is perceiving both the local and remote environments at the same time, and therefore adapts to noise, even if it is not noticeable by the interlocutors. Lastly, we will present our participation in an Arts-Sciences performance called Aporia, during which a unique actor embodies different characters, helped by a voice transforming algorithm.