Project homeIDP: Guide and suggest the PwD
Design problem: The PwD would like to paint but they are either not skilled at painting or not confident about their capabilities anymore because of their dementia condition. The Pepper robot in this case helps them to perform the activity and provides meaningful guidance and suggestions while they are doing the activity.
Design solution: In this design pattern, Pepper provides guidance and appropriate suggestions wherever required by the PwD during the painting activity. Pepper does this by suggesting certain topics and styles to the PwD which they choose to comply with or completely ignore and just draw whatever their heart desires. During the painting activity Pepper also provides some general instructions regarding the painting process and the style the PwD might have chosen to help them with the activity.
Use when: During the painting activity at appropriate times such as asking for the painting style.
Design rationale: This design pattern the theories mentioned in [1] where they explain how minimal guidance and suggestions don't work most of the time for the optimal result and why providing appropriate information is necessary for success.
Example: For our use case, Pepper provides guidance and suggestions at appropriate intervals such as when asking the PwD which style they would like to draw according to, Pepper would provide explanations and information regarding that style. Since Pepper does this verbally the speech rate is slightly lower than average considering the age and cognitive abilities of the participants. For detail on the parameter setting, see the relevant. For detail on the parameter setting, see the Table below.
| Parameter | Choice | Rationale | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gesture Openness | Open | Makes the interaction less formal so that the PwD can familiarize themself better with Pepper. | |
| Proxemic Closeness | Average (close) | Kept close to the PwD. | |
| Voice | Pitch | Middle | A high pitch makes Pepper sound friendly but it should not be too high otherwise the PwD might not be able to hear Pepper well. |
| Speed | Slower than average | Since the PwD are old, a low speech rate will help them understand Pepper better but it should not be too slow otherwise, they will be bored. | |
| Prosody | Strong | The prosody of the voice should be strong so that Pepper can articulate better. | |
| Speech Acts | Informal | An informal tone makes the interaction more comfortable for the participants. | |
| Eye Color | White | The eyes should be white so as to not distract the PwD. | |
References:
1. Kirschner, Paul A., John Sweller, and Richard E. Clark. "Why minimal guidance during instruction does not work: An analysis of the failure of constructivist, discovery, problem-based, experiential, and inquiry-based teaching." Educational psychologist 41.2 (2006): 75-86.