Softly Non-Spoken: Exploring the Potential of Soft Robotics to Support Non-Verbal Communication

Alison M Oldfield; Katherine Broomfield; Hemma Philamore; Richard  Sewell; Emma Powell

doi:10.1145/3613905.3650945

Softly Non-Spoken: Exploring the Potential of Soft Robotics to Support Non-Verbal Communication

Alison M Oldfield
, Katherine Broomfield
, Hemma Philamore
, Richard Sewell
, Emma Powell

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Existing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technologies aim to support people with communication disability participate more fully in life and society, but these often prioritize linguistic and spoken modes of expression. Embracing a broader view of communication that includes non-verbal and embodied expressions, this interdisciplinary project explored the potential of soft robotics for developing AAC technologies that create opportunities for more nuanced forms of communication. To do this, the Softly Non-Spoken project facilitated interdisciplinary workshops and developed soft robotic objects which were then used as probes to explore how such technologies might support expressive, affective non-verbal communication. Results suggest that soft robotics materials and functions offer potential in this design space, including compelling possibilities for object-enabled human interaction that could offer more individual control around communication. The findings also propose a conceptualization of communication that encompasses embodied expression and could cultivate ambiguity and intrigue in future AAC design.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	CHI EA '24
Subtitle of host publication	Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Editors	Florian Floyd Mueller, Penny Kyburz, Julie R. Williamson, Corina Sas
Publisher	Association for Computing Machinery
Pages	1-7
Number of pages	7
ISBN (Print)	9798400703317
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1145/3613905.3650945
Publication status	Published - May 2024
Event	2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems - Honolulu, HI, USA, Honolulu, United States Duration: 11 May 2024 → 16 May 2024 https://chi2024.acm.org/

Publication series

Name
ISSN (Print)	0000-0000

Conference

Conference	2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
Abbreviated title	CHI ’24
Country/Territory	United States
City	Honolulu
Period	11/05/24 → 16/05/24
Internet address	https://chi2024.acm.org/

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Owner/Author.

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10.1145/3613905.3650945

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Oldfield, A. M., Broomfield, K., Philamore, H., Sewell, R., & Powell, E. (2024). Softly Non-Spoken: Exploring the Potential of Soft Robotics to Support Non-Verbal Communication. In F. Floyd Mueller, P. Kyburz, J. R. Williamson, & C. Sas (Eds.), CHI EA '24: Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (pp. 1-7). Article 296 Association for Computing Machinery. https://doi.org/10.1145/3613905.3650945

Oldfield, Alison M ; Broomfield, Katherine ; Philamore, Hemma et al. / Softly Non-Spoken: Exploring the Potential of Soft Robotics to Support Non-Verbal Communication. CHI EA '24: Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. editor / Florian Floyd Mueller ; Penny Kyburz ; Julie R. Williamson ; Corina Sas. Association for Computing Machinery, 2024. pp. 1-7

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title = "Softly Non-Spoken: Exploring the Potential of Soft Robotics to Support Non-Verbal Communication",

abstract = "Existing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technologies aim to support people with communication disability participate more fully in life and society, but these often prioritize linguistic and spoken modes of expression. Embracing a broader view of communication that includes non-verbal and embodied expressions, this interdisciplinary project explored the potential of soft robotics for developing AAC technologies that create opportunities for more nuanced forms of communication. To do this, the Softly Non-Spoken project facilitated interdisciplinary workshops and developed soft robotic objects which were then used as probes to explore how such technologies might support expressive, affective non-verbal communication. Results suggest that soft robotics materials and functions offer potential in this design space, including compelling possibilities for object-enabled human interaction that could offer more individual control around communication. The findings also propose a conceptualization of communication that encompasses embodied expression and could cultivate ambiguity and intrigue in future AAC design.",

author = "Oldfield, \{Alison M\} and Katherine Broomfield and Hemma Philamore and Richard Sewell and Emma Powell",

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year = "2024",

month = may,

doi = "10.1145/3613905.3650945",

language = "English",

isbn = "9798400703317",

publisher = "Association for Computing Machinery",

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Oldfield, AM, Broomfield, K, Philamore, H, Sewell, R & Powell, E 2024, Softly Non-Spoken: Exploring the Potential of Soft Robotics to Support Non-Verbal Communication. in F Floyd Mueller, P Kyburz, JR Williamson & C Sas (eds), CHI EA '24: Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems., 296, Association for Computing Machinery, pp. 1-7, 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States, 11/05/24. https://doi.org/10.1145/3613905.3650945

Softly Non-Spoken: Exploring the Potential of Soft Robotics to Support Non-Verbal Communication. / Oldfield, Alison M; Broomfield, Katherine; Philamore, Hemma et al.
CHI EA '24: Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. ed. / Florian Floyd Mueller; Penny Kyburz; Julie R. Williamson; Corina Sas. Association for Computing Machinery, 2024. p. 1-7 296.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

TY - GEN

T1 - Softly Non-Spoken: Exploring the Potential of Soft Robotics to Support Non-Verbal Communication

AU - Oldfield, Alison M

AU - Broomfield, Katherine

AU - Philamore, Hemma

AU - Sewell, Richard

AU - Powell, Emma

PY - 2024/5

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AB - Existing Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) technologies aim to support people with communication disability participate more fully in life and society, but these often prioritize linguistic and spoken modes of expression. Embracing a broader view of communication that includes non-verbal and embodied expressions, this interdisciplinary project explored the potential of soft robotics for developing AAC technologies that create opportunities for more nuanced forms of communication. To do this, the Softly Non-Spoken project facilitated interdisciplinary workshops and developed soft robotic objects which were then used as probes to explore how such technologies might support expressive, affective non-verbal communication. Results suggest that soft robotics materials and functions offer potential in this design space, including compelling possibilities for object-enabled human interaction that could offer more individual control around communication. The findings also propose a conceptualization of communication that encompasses embodied expression and could cultivate ambiguity and intrigue in future AAC design.

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DO - 10.1145/3613905.3650945

M3 - Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

SN - 9798400703317

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BT - CHI EA '24

A2 - Floyd Mueller, Florian

A2 - Kyburz, Penny

A2 - Williamson, Julie R.

A2 - Sas, Corina

PB - Association for Computing Machinery

T2 - 2024 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems

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ER -

Oldfield AM, Broomfield K, Philamore H, Sewell R, Powell E. Softly Non-Spoken: Exploring the Potential of Soft Robotics to Support Non-Verbal Communication. In Floyd Mueller F, Kyburz P, Williamson JR, Sas C, editors, CHI EA '24: Extended Abstracts of the CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Association for Computing Machinery. 2024. p. 1-7. 296 Epub 2024 May 11. doi: 10.1145/3613905.3650945

Softly Non-Spoken: Exploring the Potential of Soft Robotics to Support Non-Verbal Communication

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