Input modality and task complexity: Do they relate?

In the research field of Human-Robot Collaboration (HRC) choosing the right input modality is a crucial aspect for successful cooperation, especially for different levels of task complexity. In this paper we present a preliminary study we conducted in order to investigate the correlation between input modalities and task complexity. We assume that specific input devices are suitable for specific levels of task complexity in HRC tasks. In our study participants could choose between two different input modalities to perform a race with Lego Mindstorm robots against each other. One of the main findings was that both factors (input modality / task complexity) have a severe impact on task performance and user satisfaction. Furthermore, we found out that users´ perceptions of their performance differed from reality in some cases.