The effect of empathy on remote social connections via paired robots.

A range of devices and technologies are available to mediate social connections between geographically distant people. Some of these methods exploit awareness information to enhance the connectedness of distant users. However, the effect of user traits on the experience of interpersonal communicatio...

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Main Authors: Satoru Suzuki, Noriaki Imaoka, Takeshi Ando, Misako Uchida, Kenji Suzuki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316240
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author Satoru Suzuki
Noriaki Imaoka
Takeshi Ando
Misako Uchida
Kenji Suzuki
author_facet Satoru Suzuki
Noriaki Imaoka
Takeshi Ando
Misako Uchida
Kenji Suzuki
author_sort Satoru Suzuki
collection DOAJ
description A range of devices and technologies are available to mediate social connections between geographically distant people. Some of these methods exploit awareness information to enhance the connectedness of distant users. However, the effect of user traits on the experience of interpersonal communication through awareness systems remains unclear. In this study, we explored the relationship between user empathy and the experience of interpersonal communication mediated by a paired robot able to convey user awareness information. We conducted an experiment to facilitate communication among distant family members using the paired robot over the course of 1 week. Participants' empathy level and their experience of the communication were assessed using questionnaires. The findings indicated that individuals with higher empathy can better interpret their partner's situation and feelings from the awareness information.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-7e989f63799a4a78939b52ecb8be07302025-02-07T05:30:46ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032025-01-01201e031624010.1371/journal.pone.0316240The effect of empathy on remote social connections via paired robots.Satoru SuzukiNoriaki ImaokaTakeshi AndoMisako UchidaKenji SuzukiA range of devices and technologies are available to mediate social connections between geographically distant people. Some of these methods exploit awareness information to enhance the connectedness of distant users. However, the effect of user traits on the experience of interpersonal communication through awareness systems remains unclear. In this study, we explored the relationship between user empathy and the experience of interpersonal communication mediated by a paired robot able to convey user awareness information. We conducted an experiment to facilitate communication among distant family members using the paired robot over the course of 1 week. Participants' empathy level and their experience of the communication were assessed using questionnaires. The findings indicated that individuals with higher empathy can better interpret their partner's situation and feelings from the awareness information.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316240
spellingShingle Satoru Suzuki
Noriaki Imaoka
Takeshi Ando
Misako Uchida
Kenji Suzuki
The effect of empathy on remote social connections via paired robots.
PLoS ONE
title The effect of empathy on remote social connections via paired robots.
title_full The effect of empathy on remote social connections via paired robots.
title_fullStr The effect of empathy on remote social connections via paired robots.
title_full_unstemmed The effect of empathy on remote social connections via paired robots.
title_short The effect of empathy on remote social connections via paired robots.
title_sort effect of empathy on remote social connections via paired robots
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0316240
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