Otherness as a Quality in Designing Expressive Robotic Touch

TL;DR

This paper explores how embracing 'otherness' in robotic touch design can foster expressive, ambiguous interactions, moving beyond realism to create more evocative robotic haptic experiences.

Contribution

It introduces a novel perspective that treats otherness as a valuable design quality, supported by analysis of art, design cases, and a reflective research approach.

Findings

Identifies design languages centered on otherness in robotic touch

Proposes strategies to shape and embed otherness in robotic systems

Reflects on tensions and risks of designing with otherness

Abstract

Haptic technologies have advanced rapidly, yet exploration of robotic touch remains dominated by replicating realistic environmental cues or hand gestures, which narrows the design space and risks social resistance. This paper argues for alternatives: grounded in the notion of "otherness" from human-robot interaction (HRI), we propose treating robotic touch's inherent otherness as a design quality. Instead of being a limitation in pursuing realism, otherness can be embraced to elicit ambiguity and provoke alternative interpretations, fostering expressive and evocative robotic touch design. To develop this perspective, we analyze inspirational art and design precedents and four design research cases through a reflective Research through Design (RtD) approach. Through this analysis, we articulate a set of design languages structured around why otherness matters for touch meaning-making, how it can be shaped through design strategies, and where it can be embedded within robotic touch systems. We conclude by reflecting on the tensions and risks involved in designing robotic touch with otherness in mind.