A Robot-Assisted Approach to Small Talk Training for Adults with ASD

TL;DR

This paper presents an autonomous robot system designed to help adults with ASD practice and improve their small talk skills in a home setting, showing positive engagement and progress.

Contribution

It introduces a novel in-home robot-assisted training system specifically tailored for adults with ASD to enhance social conversational skills.

Findings

Participants enjoyed the training experience.

Notable improvements in initiating conversations.

Enhanced eye contact observed among users.

Abstract

From dating to job interviews, making new friends or simply chatting with the cashier at checkout, engaging in small talk is a vital, everyday social skill. For adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), small talk can be particularly challenging, yet it is essential for social integration, building relationships, and accessing professional opportunities. In this study, we present our development and evaluation of an in-home autonomous robot system that allows users to practice small talk. Results from the week-long study show that adults with ASD enjoyed the training, made notable progress in initiating conversations and improving eye contact, and viewed the system as a valuable tool for enhancing their conversational skills.