OfficeMate: Pilot Evaluation of an Office Assistant Robot

TL;DR

This paper presents OfficeMate, a social office assistant robot evaluated in a pilot study, highlighting its potential to reduce stress and promote health, while also addressing user concerns about privacy and interaction.

Contribution

Introduces OfficeMate, a novel social office robot, and provides initial pilot evaluation insights into its impact on employee well-being and social interaction.

Findings

Users see potential in OARs for reducing stress.

Users value companionship and health reminders from the robot.

Concerns about privacy and interaction timing were raised.

Abstract

Office Assistant Robots (OARs) offer a promising solution to proactively provide in-situ support to enhance employee well-being and productivity in office spaces. We introduce OfficeMate, a social OAR designed to assist with practical tasks, foster social interaction, and promote health and well-being. Through a pilot evaluation with seven participants in an office environment, we found that users see potential in OARs for reducing stress and promoting healthy habits and value the robot's ability to provide companionship and physical activity reminders in the office space. However, concerns regarding privacy, communication, and the robot's interaction timing were also raised. The feedback highlights the need to carefully consider the robot's appearance and behaviour to ensure it enhances user experience and aligns with office social norms. We believe these insights will better inform the development of adaptive, intelligent OAR systems for future office space integration.