Mitigating Over-Trust in Chat Companion Robot Interaction Using Augmented Reality

This study aims to explore the effects of different human-machine interfaces, system performance, and robot interaction modalities on over-trust in chat companion robot systems. We designed and implemented three types of interfaces: 2D Virtual Interface + Virtual Robot, 3D Augmented Reality Interface + AR-based Virtual Robot, and 3D Real World + NAO Physical Robot. We also manipulated the system performance (high or low) and the robot interaction modality (language, gesture, or both). We conducted a user study with 30 participants, who interacted with the chat companion robot under different conditions and rated their trust, distrust, and human-robot distance. We also measured the user experience in terms of usefulness and ease of use. The results showed that the type of interface significantly influenced the trust, distrust, and human-robot distance of the users, and that the 3D augmented reality interface was the most effective in enhancing trust and reducing distrust and distance. The performance of the system also affected the trust and distance of the users, and the gesture interface was the most sensitive to the performance variation. The modality of the interaction did not have a significant impact on the dependent variables. The user experience ratings also indicated that the 3D augmented reality interface was the most useful and easy to use. The implications and limitations of these findings are discussed in the paper.